The meadow sage - a profile
- Botanical name: Salvia pratensis
- Family: Mint
- Special features: half rosette plant
- Origin: Mediterranean area
- Distribution: Europe, Caucasus, North America. Grows to a height of 1,600 meters
- Location: Sunny locations - meadows, roadsides, wasteland
- Species: around ten species for natural gardens
- Height: up to 70 centimeters in height
- Perennial: becomes several years old
- Habitat: wild plants, sunny meadows, fallow land
- Leaves: green, up to 10 cm long and 5 cm wide
- Flower colors: predominantly blue-violet, occasionally pink and white
- Flowering period: May to August, 2nd flowering possible in autumn
- Pollination: lever mechanism, main pollinator bumblebees
- Propagation: seeds, root division, cuttings
- Toxicity: not toxic
- Use: ornamental plant in the garden, medicinal plant
Meadow sage needs a lot of light
One of the peculiarities of meadow sage is that it belongs to the light plants. If the plant receives less than 20 percent of normal light, it becomes sterile and no longer reproduces.
also read
- Sow meadow sage in the garden - this is how sowing works!
- What is the right location for meadow sage?
- Meadow sage has a long flowering period
Meadow sage is very popular with bumblebees and butterflies. The wild plant is therefore also grown as a so-called bee pasture in the garden.
Cultivate meadow sage in the garden
In order to cultivate meadow sage in the garden, you need a location that is as sunny as possible. The plant substrate should be well drained. Calcareous soils are preferred, but meadow sage also grows well in other locations as long as it gets enough sun.
The wild plant develops long tap roots and should therefore not be transplanted.
Particularly beautiful meadow sage species for the garden are:
- Midsummer
- Ocean blue
- Lapis Lazuli
- Rose Rhapsody
Use as a medicinal plant
Meadow sage, like other members of the sage family, is not poisonous. The leaves contain fewer active ingredients than real sage. Among other things, it contains: tannic acid, bitter substances, flavonoids and essential oils.
Meadow sage is used for digestive problems, heavy sweating and skin diseases. The plant is used as a tea, which is used both internally and externally.
Tips
Meadow sage is extremely easy to care for if you grow it in the garden. After flowering you can cut it back completely. He then drives out again in early autumn.
