Clary, Annual clary, Bluebeard
Salvia viridis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 45-50 cm high and 20-25 cm wide. The leaves are pale green and oval or oblong. They have a rounded or heart-shaped base. They have long stalks and fine teeth. The flowers are surrounded by bracts 4 cm long that are pink, purple or white with darker veins.

There are about 900 Salvia species.

Where it is found

It suits warm temperate places. It is frost hardy. It grows in dry habitats and grassy places. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Europe, France, Greece, Iran, Italy, Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine

How it is used for food

The leaves have been added to salads, soups and used as cooked greens. They are used as a sage and as a potherb. The seeds are eaten fried with honey. They are also used as a condiment. The seeds are the source of an essential oil used for flavouring wines and beers.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Joseph sage, Painted sage, Red-topped sage, Hormium clary, Zarif salba

Synonyms

Horminum coloratum Moench; Horminum sativum Mill.; Horminum viride (L.) Moench; Ormilis horminum (L.) Raf.; Ormilis viridis (L.) Raf.; Salvia comosa Salisb.; Salvia dolichorrhiza Caball.; Salvia horminum L.; Salvia horminum var. angustifolia Boiss.; Salvia horminum var. hypoleuca Briq.; Salvia horminum var. intermedia Briq.; Salvia horminum var. viridis (L.) Briq.; Salvia intercedens Pobed.; Salvia rosanii Ten.; Salvia spielmannii Scop.; Salvia truncata Willd.; Sclarea viridis (L.) Sojak;