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Useful Temperate Plants

Salvia elegans

Vahl

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Salvia camertonii Regel

Salvia incarnata Cav.

Salvia longiflora Sessé & Moc.

Salvia microcalyx Scheele

Salvia microculis Poir.

Salvia punicea M.Martens & Galeotti

Salvia rutilans Carrière

Common Name: Pineapple Sage

Salvia elegans
Flowering stem of the cultivar 'Golden Delicious'
Photograph by: BudOhio
Creative Commons License
Salvia elegans Salvia elegans Salvia elegans Salvia elegans

General Information

Salvia elegans is an evergreen, perennial plant growing about 100 - 150cm tall and often spreading at the roots to form a large clump[
678
Title
A Book of Salvias - Sages for Every Garden
Publication
 
Author
Clebsch B.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc.; Oregon.
Year
1997
ISBN
0-88192-369-9
Description
Fairly detailed information on over 100 species of Salvia that are grown as ornamentals.
]..The stems can become more or less woody and persist[
678
Title
A Book of Salvias - Sages for Every Garden
Publication
 
Author
Clebsch B.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc.; Oregon.
Year
1997
ISBN
0-88192-369-9
Description
Fairly detailed information on over 100 species of Salvia that are grown as ornamentals.
].
The leaves are sometimes used as a flavouring with the scent of pineapple. The plant is often cultivated in herb gardens, both for ornament and herbal use[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

C. America - Guatemala, north to northern Mexico.

Habitat

Woodland edges; at elevations from 1,800 - 2,800 metres[
678
Title
A Book of Salvias - Sages for Every Garden
Publication
 
Author
Clebsch B.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc.; Oregon.
Year
1997
ISBN
0-88192-369-9
Description
Fairly detailed information on over 100 species of Salvia that are grown as ornamentals.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Humming birds
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia elegans is found from moderate elevations in the tropics of central America to the subtropical climate of northern Mexico. It is usually found at elevations above 1,700 metres. The plant tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c and can be grown outdoors in the warmer regions of the temperate zone[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Even in milder regions of the temperate zone, however, the top growth of this plant will usually be cut back to the ground in cold winters but, if the roots are given a good mulch in the autumn, plants will often survive the winter outdoors and resprout freely from the base in the spring[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a warm sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a rich soil[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species comes into bloom in the autumn and early winter, and requires frost-free conditions at this time if it is to succeed[
678
Title
A Book of Salvias - Sages for Every Garden
Publication
 
Author
Clebsch B.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc.; Oregon.
Year
1997
ISBN
0-88192-369-9
Description
Fairly detailed information on over 100 species of Salvia that are grown as ornamentals.
].
The species is of unknown origin, but is thought to be a horticultural form of the ornamental red sage (Salvia splendens[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
])
There are some named varieties. 'Scarlet Pineapple' has leaves with a pineapple-like scent[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

The leaves have a pleasant scent of pineapple and can be used fresh or dried as a flavouring[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. They are added to cold drinks and fruit salads, fresh leaves can be placed under sponge cake mixtures to give a subtle scent, whilst the fresh or dried leaves can be added to savoury dishes to give a sausage-like flavour[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

An infusion of the leaves is drunk as a tea[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Flowers - raw[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Eaten in salads, they have an excellent, sweet, fruity flavour[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[
61
Title
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Publication
 
Author
Usher. G.
Publisher
Constable
Year
1974
ISBN
0094579202
Description
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
].
The cultivar 'Honey Melon' can be grown as a thick ground cover[
678
Title
A Book of Salvias - Sages for Every Garden
Publication
 
Author
Clebsch B.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc.; Oregon.
Year
1997
ISBN
0-88192-369-9
Description
Fairly detailed information on over 100 species of Salvia that are grown as ornamentals.
].

Other Uses

An extract of the stems, flowers and leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant and skin conditioner[
1243
Title
CosIng
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Salvia+elegans>

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