Types of Sage Plants

More than 900 types of sage plants exist, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension Service. Since ancient times sage has been known for its medicinal benefits. It is considered sacred by some cultures.

Two Main Categories of Sage

A sage plant or salvia is typically classified as either an ornamental plant or an herb. Though sage and salvia are technically interchangeable terms, gardeners tend to use "sage" when the plant is intended for consumption and "salvia" for the strictly ornamental plant.

Common Garden Sage

Salvia officinalis L. is preferred for cooking. Dalmation sage is a type of Salvia officinalis L. that is said to have the finest sage aroma.

Sage in Chinese Herbal Medicine

Those who practice herbal medicine may prescribe Salvia miltiorrhiza L. to treat menstrual irregularities, abdominal pain, insomnia, uterine bleeding, hives, mastitis and hepatitis.

Sage Folk Remedies

A wild sage plant native to the eastern U.S., Salvia lyrata L. has been used to treat warts. Salvia tomentosa Mill., which comes from the Mediterranean region, is thought to heal warts and reduce abdominal pain.

Sacred Sage

Yerba de Maria, or Salvia divinorum, is a hallucinogenic sage plant that is used in some religious ceremonies in Central America.

References

• University of California Cooperative Extension
• Purdue Horticulture Department
• Texas A & M