Salvia elegans

Common Name

Pineapple Sage, Pineapple-scented Sage,

Family

Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Not known

Range

Southern N. America - Mexico to Guatemala.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary
Bloom Color: Red. Main Bloom Time: Late summer. Form: Irregular or sprawling.

Physical Characteristics

Salvia elegans is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 8. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Mar to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.It is noted for attracting wildlife.

USDA hardiness zone : 8-10

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.


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Habitats
Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Edible Uses: Condiment. The leaves have a pleasant scent of pineapple and can be used fresh or dried as a flavouring[238]. They are added to cold drinks and fruit salads, fresh leaves can be placed under sponge cake mixtures to give a subtle scent, whilst the fresh or dried leaves can be added to savoury dishes to give a sausage-like flavour[238, K].

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. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Seashore. Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a warm sunny position[200]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. The top growth will be cut back to the ground in cold winters but, if the roots are given a good mulch in the autumn, plants will often survive the winter outdoors and resprout freely from the base in the spring[200]. There are some named varieties. 'Scarlet Pineapple' has leaves with a pineapple-like scent[238]. The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[61]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Special Features:Attracts birds, North American native, Edible, Fragrant foliage, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers.

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].

Blockhill

Salvia elegans

Pineapple sage