Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica Seeds - Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica, also called clary sage, is an imposing biennial which is sometimes grown as a perennial. In spring, it bears giant inflorescences in plumes made up of small blue and creamy white flowers, surrounded by large pearly pinkish-white bracts that reflect the light playfully. All the parts of the inflorescence are glandular, aromatic and contain an abundance of essential oil with well-known medicinal properties. This magnificent variety copes even better with dry conditions than the type species and thrives in light, well-drained soils. It self-seeds easily in the garden.

Clary sage is a plant of the family Lamiaceae that is native to Southern Europe, North Africa and Central Asia. It is a perennial plant in theory, but it usually behaves like a biennial, dying after an over-production of seeds in its second year of existence. It develops a large rosette measuring 60 to 80 cm in diameter that persists in winter, that is composed of thick, simple, bluish-green, pubescent leaves that, when touched, give off a pervasive fragrance with notes of musk and grapefruit. In June-July, or even earlier depending on the climate, strong, branched inflorescences emerge from the rosette, rising 1.20 m from the ground, slowly unfurling quadrangular stems loaded with a profusion of flowers. The bicoloured small flowers are pale blue and creamy white and are enhanced by very decorative, pearly pink bracts. Flowers are followed by the formation of small, fine, oblong, dark-coloured seeds. If the plant is allowed to produce seeds, it may die. To keep it a little longer and to prevent it from self-seeding everywhere else, simply remove the wilted inflorescences.

In Haute Provence, clary sage escapes from crop fields, spreading its monumental inflorescences between clumps of lavender, painting a luminous and fragrant picture under the scorching June sun. You can draw inspiration from these type of scenes to use in the garden: combine it with thyme, common sage, grey sagebrushs and the very lively blooms of shrubby sages. This spectacular plant will light up an entire perennial bed and goes well with the old roses. If left to re-seed, it will quickly fill up any open spaces in beds. Clary sage leaves can be safely used to flavour soups, meat, game...

Clary sage has long been known for its medicinal properties, which have earned it the name "toute-bonne" or "everything-good" in English, and is currently cultivated on a large scale in Provence for its essential oil, which is used in phytotherapy and in perfumery.