Is sage hardy?

In order for sage to continue to bring joy next year, it must be overwintered properly. We show which sage species are hardy and how you can successfully get the herb through the winter.

sage (Salvia) is very diverse with over 1,000 species. These differ, among other things, in their winter hardiness. With a short search you often only find information about the common sage (Salvia officinalis). But if you cultivate other types of sage, you obviously need to know how to winterize this sage. In the following you will learn how this works and which species are particularly cold-resistant.

Which sage species are hardy?

These sage varieties are considered to be extremely hardy:

• real sage (Salvia officinalis): hardy to -23 °C, perennial
• Whorled Sage (Salvia verticillata): hardy to -23 °C
• Yellow Sage (Salvia glutinosa): hardy to -28 °C
• steppe sage (Salvia nemorosa): hardy to -28 °C
• clary sage (Salvia sclarea): hardy to -28° C, but usually dies in the second year after flowering
• meadow sage (Salvia pratensis): hardy to -40 °C

Tip: Be careful with variegated sage varieties. With a winter hardiness down to -17 °C, they are somewhat more sensitive and frost protection makes sense here.

Other sage species such as pineapple sage (Salvia rutilans), the honeydew melon sage (Salvia elegans) and the currant sage (Salvia microphylla) are not considered hardy. In order to overwinter them successfully, special precautions are necessary. In the following we show how this can be achieved.

Overwinter sage properly

With species that are not hardy, it is often practical to overwinter the sage in a pot. In this way, the entire pot can be brought to a sheltered place during the cold season without much effort.

On particularly cold, sunny days, it makes sense to cover the plant with fleece, even with hardy varieties, to protect it from frost. Sage should also be watered occasionally in winter. However, this may only be done on frost-free days and good water drainage is essential. Another important point is that sage should no longer be cut too late in the year in order to be as hardy as possible. If you want more Cut of sage If you would like to find out more, we recommend our special article on the subject. In general, ornamental sage can be overwintered using the same methods as other sage species.

Tip: If sage is wrapped with fleece or other material, it should always be noted that air circulation is possible. Otherwise mold can form.

Overwinter in the bed

If you want to overwinter sage in the bed, it makes sense to cover the plant with brushwood and leaves. This is also recommended for hardy species, especially in regions where very high sub-zero temperatures can occur. The same applies to younger plants, as these are even more sensitive. The location also plays a role: the soil should be permeable and dry - you can find out more about this in our separate article on planting sage.

Overwinter the sage in the pot

Sage species that are sensitive to cold must be brought to a frost-free place over the winter. A bright room like a conservatory with 5 to 15 °C is best suited for this.

If hardy sage species such as sage are grown in pots, they must be better protected from the cold than in beds. If no cookie is available in a frost-free place, the following measures must be taken: Wrap the Plant pot with fleece or bubble wrap and covering the shoots with winter protection fleece, brushwood and Leaves. In addition, a base made of wood or, for example, Styrofoam helps to successfully overwinter the sage in the pot.

After the sage has hibernated, transplanting is due every two years at the latest. In the course of this, it is advisable to fertilize the herb, since the fertilizer can already be incorporated into the substrate. Here we recommend a primarily organic long-term fertilizer like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This is safe for pets and garden animals and preserves the sage aroma. In our special article on care of sage you can read more about it.

You don't have a lot of space and still want to store numerous herbs? Then a vertical growing option for kitchen herbs could be the solution for you. We'll show you how to make one yourself Build and plant herbs.