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Salvia pomifera - L.

Common Name Apple Sage
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky slopes, limestone cliffs and macchie from sea level to 800 metres in Turkey[93].
Range S. Europe - Greece, Turkey and Crete.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia pomifera Apple Sage


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Salvia pomifera Apple Sage
www.flickr.com/photos/8340155@N05

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Salvia pomifera 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 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
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

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The leaves have a strong odour and flavour, resembling lavender and common sage[183]. They are used as an adulterant of sage as a commercial food flavouring[183, 238]. An infusion of the herb is used to make a tea[183]. Very fragrant, it is called 'fascomiglia'[200]. Semi-transparent galls are formed on the plant as a result of gall wasps invading the young branches. These galls are made into a kind of conserve or sweetmeat by crystallizing them in sugar and this is regarded as a great delicacy by the Greeks[183, 200]. They have an agreeable and astringent flavour[4]. We are not sure if the galls are used before or after the insect has departed[K].

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.
Miscellany

An infusion of the dried leaves is used medicinally in Greece[4]. The report does not give any details as to the uses, but does say that in excess the tea causes profuse perspiration, languor and even faintness[4]. The leaves are said to have the same properties as common sage (S. officinalis), but to be stronger in their action[238]. These properties are antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator[4, 9, 13, 21, 165, 238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Miscellany

None known

Special Uses

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]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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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: Turkey (west) EUROPE: Greece (incl. Crete)

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 :

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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.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

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