Common Name: Wild Clary

General Information

Salvia verbenaca is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of erect to ascending, branched or unbranched stems that can grow 15 - 70cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It was probably used as a medicinal plant more than 2,000 years ago by the Romans; it was also cultivated as medicinal plant in the late Middle Ages in English gardens, though it is probably only grown as an ornamental at the present time[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

All around the Mediterranean region, north through southwest Europe to Britain and Netherlands

Habitat

In Britain it is found wild in only one place on sand dunes at Vazon Bay in Guernsey[]. In Europe it is found in dry grassland, avoiding acid soils and shade. Meadows, dry slopes, on limestone; also as weed in vineyards[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Self, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia verbenaca is a moderately cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -20°c when fully dormant[].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a rich soil[]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
This species is well suited to the wild garden, growing well in the summer meadow[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. They are most often used as a flavouring in cooked foods. They are aromatic. The young leaves can be eaten fried or candied[].

A herb tea is made from the leaves, it is said to improve the digestion.

Flowers - raw. A flavouring in salads[, ].

Several Salvia species in the Americas (see Salvia hispanica for example), especially those in Mexico, are valued for their seeds. These become mucilaginous when soaked in water and are widely used to make refreshing drinks. In addition, the seeds of some of these species are often also used as a food, being ground into a powder and used in making biscuits, soups etc, or sprouted and used in salads.
Various other species of Salvia, such as this one, also have seeds that become strongly mucilaginous upon wetting. It has been suggested that many of these could also be used in the same ways as the species from the Americas[].

Medicinal

The seed forms a thick mucilage when it is soaked for a few minutes in water. This is efficacious in removing small particles of dust from the eyes[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a good source of food for bees[].

Other Uses

The plant yields a small amount of an agreeably scented essential oil[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse. 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.
Division in spring.