Explore Salvia pratensis (Meadow Sage) – its characteristics, habitat, cultivation, propagation, and functional uses and benefits.
Salvia pratensis | Botanical Characteristics
Common Names: Meadow Sage, Meadow Clary
Family: Lamiaceae
Appearance: A clump-forming herbaceous perennial with erect stems bearing long terminal spikes of whorled, deep violet-blue flowers. The aromatic, ovate, dark green leaves form a basal rosette.
Type: Perennial
Evergreen / Deciduous: N/A
Layer: Herbaceous
Root System: Fibrous root system
Height: Up to 1 meter
Width: Approximately 0.5 meters
Lifespan: Long-lived perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate
Fertility: Self-fertile
Flowers: Hermaphroditic
Pollinator: Attracts bees and other pollinators
Toxicity: Not considered toxic
Salvia pratensis | Habitat and Cultivation
Range
Native Range: Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa
Companionship: Thrives in meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands, often found alongside other sun-loving perennials
Invasive Range: Not reported as invasive
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3–8
Minimum Chill Hours Required: Not specified
Resistance/Tolerance
Poor Soil: Moderate tolerance
Drought: Moderate tolerance
Shade: Low tolerance; prefers full sun
Flood: Low tolerance
Wind: Moderate tolerance
Maritime: Moderate tolerance
Air Pollution: Moderate tolerance
Fire: Low tolerance
Thriving Conditions
Sun Exposure: Prefers full sun
Soil Moisture: Prefers well-drained soils
Soil Type: Thrives in calcareous, nutrient-poor grasslands
Soil pH: Prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soils
Propagation
Seeds: Easily propagated from seeds; sow in spring or autumn
Cuttings: Can be propagated by softwood cuttings in late spring
Salvia pratensis | Functional Uses and Benefits
Edible: Not commonly used as a food source
Medicinal: Traditionally used for its astringent and antiseptic properties
Cosmetics: Occasionally used in herbal skincare preparations
Animal Feed: Not typically used for animal feed
Fiber: Not utilized for fiber
Timber: Not applicable
Firewood: Not applicable
Wind Break: Not suitable as a windbreak
Fence: Not used as a barrier plant
Cover Crop: Not used as a cover crop
Mulch: Not typically used as mulch
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Dynamic Accumulator: No significant data available
Pollinator Attractor: Highly attractive to bees and other pollinators
Pest Repellent: Not commonly noted as a pest repellent
Wildlife Supporter: Provides nectar for insects
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