Common Name: Jupiter's Distaff

General Information

Salvia glutinosa is an erect, perennial plant with unbranched stems that can grow up to 100 - 125cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern and central Europe to western Asia - Germany to Spain, east to southern European Russia, the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran

Habitat

Scrub and moist places in deciduous forests[]. Shady forests, wet soil rich in humus[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia glutinosa is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[, ].
Grows best in a well-drained humus-rich soil in a lightly shaded position[]. Succeeds in any good soil in full sun or partial shade[]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[].
During the summer the whole plant becomes covered in a tacky substance like a fragrant gum[].
This species has a running root system, sending up new shoots some distance from the parent plant, and can spread freely[].
Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

The aromatic leaves and flowers are used as a flavouring in country wines[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as a tall ground cover when spaced about 75cm apart each way[]. They are useful for colonizing large areas[].

Other Uses

An aromatic gum is obtained from the plant[]. No details are given of an uses for this gum[].
The plant contains essential oil, but the yield obtained from dry plants harvested in full flower was insignificant. The oil is greenish in colour and has a rather unpleasant musky scent[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season[].