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Salvia fruticosa - Mill.

Common Name Greek Sage, Greek oregano
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry rocky hillsides[148].
Range Europe - C. and E. Mediterranean.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia fruticosa Greek Sage, Greek oregano


Salvia fruticosa Greek Sage, Greek oregano

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Salvia fruticosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. triloba. L.f.

Plant Habitats

 South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The leaves are used as a spice or as an adulterant of sage (S. officinalis)[183]. Somewhat inferior in quality to sage but it is easier to grow indoors[183]. The leaves make up 50 - 95% of commercially dried sage leaves[238]. A fragrant tea, called 'fascomiglia' is made by infusing the leaves[148, 200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antihydrotic  Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Astringent  Carminative  Cholagogue  Depurative  Expectorant  
Febrifuge  Stimulant  Tonic  Vasodilator

The leaves are antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, depurative, expectorant, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator[4, 9, 13, 21, 165, 238]. They are used internally in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, menstrual problems, infertility, nervous tension and depression[238]. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women[238]. The leaves can be harvested as required and used fresh, or they can be harvested before the flowers open and dried or distilled for their essential oil[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Essential

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used to adulterate spike lavender oil (obtained from Lavandula latifolia)[238].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[200]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[11]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, though they should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country, but perhaps even there needing the protection of a south-facing wall. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200]. The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[148]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[200]. 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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria (west), Turkey (west) EUROPE: Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sicily) AFRICA: Libya (northeast)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cistus salviifoliusRock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock RoseShrub0.6 8-11 FLMNDM103
Salvia apianaWhite Sage, Compact white sagePerennial3.0 7-10  LMNDM312
Salvia ballotaeflora Annual0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Salvia carduaceaThistle SageAnnual/Perennial0.7 7-10  LMNDM20 
Salvia carnosaPurple SageShrub0.8 6-9  LMNDM12 
Salvia clevelandiiBlue Sage, Fragrant sage, Chaparral SageShrub0.6 8-11 MLMNDM10 
Salvia columbariaeChia, Ziegler's sageAnnual/Perennial0.7 6-9  LMNDM32 
Salvia dorisianaSage Fruity PineapplePerennial1.3 9-12 FLMHSNM303
Salvia elegansPineapple Sage, Pineapple-scented Sage,Perennial1.0 8-11 MLMNDM312
Salvia glabrescens Perennial0.3 -  LMSNDM10 
Salvia glutinosaJupiter's Distaff, Sticky SagePerennial1.2 4-8  LMSNDM103
Salvia hispanicaMexican Chia, ChiaAnnual1.0 8-11  LMNDM30 
Salvia japonica Perennial0.8 7-10  LMSNDM102
Salvia lanata Perennial0.3 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia lanigeraWrinkle-Leaved SageShrub0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Salvia lavandulifoliaSpanish SageShrub0.3 4-8  LMNDM232
Salvia leucanthaMexican Bush SageShrub1.2 8-10 FLMHNM013
Salvia lyrataCancer Weed, Lyreleaf SagePerennial0.6 4-9 MLMNDM020
Salvia melliferaCalifornian Black SageShrub2.0 7-10  LMNDM12 
Salvia microphyllaBlackcurrant SagePerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia moorcroftiana Perennial0.9 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia multicaulis Shrub0.3 7-10  LMNDM10 
Salvia multiorrhizaDan ShenPerennial0.6 5-9  LMNDM03 
Salvia officinalisSage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden SageShrub0.6 5-10 MLMNDM455
Salvia plebeia Biennial0.5 -  LMNMWe11 
Salvia pomiferaApple SageShrub1.0 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia pratensisMeadow Clary, Introduced sagePerennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM100
Salvia reflexaMintweed, Lanceleaf sageAnnual0.8 0-0  LMNDM100
Salvia sclareaClary, Europe sage, Clary SageBiennial/Perennial1.0 5-9 MLMHNDM223
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

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