Wild sage. Do you use it? How?

jowitt.europe

Wild sage (salvia pratensis)

is in full blossom in our Alpine meadows. I collect it every year and use it in my herbal infusions, because of its mild taste, the deep purple colour of the blossoms, because it’s ethereal oils are so good for respiratory tract. Sometimes I add it to my summer wild flower lemonades. So far I have never used it as a spice or in cooking. Do you?

Torey

I am not familiar with this species. It doesn't grow here, although I see it is considered a noxious weed, just to the south of me in Washington State. In my BC plant atlas, it is showing one location which is just slightly north of the CA/US border. So it appears to be on the move northward. At least it will be a useful "weed", so I will welcome it.

You are very lucky to have this as part of your alpine meadow. Very beautiful. I love it when my garden sage flowers.

Does it have a sage flavour?

Monek Marie

Its right on the edge of my growing range according to google. Being upper pennsylvania it may not grow here. I will have to look and see if I can find it

jowitt.europe

@torey yes, it does have a sage flavour, but much milder. It is a very “oily” plant and dries slowly. It is a very beautiful plant and a real decoration to alpine meadows.

Sharie

Interesting. Very pretty flowers. I used to collect wild sage in BC but it didn't look anything like this one. Mostly I gave it to friends to burn.

Torey

@Sharie I think the sage you are talking (from around Lillooet) is Big Sagebrush which isn't a sage at all but is an Artemisia species. Or maybe you are thinking of Pasture Sage, also an Artemisia. There are a lot of Artemisia species here with Sage or Sagewort in the name. Makes it all very confusing. Big Sagebrush is gathered by most of the First Nations in this area for making smudge sticks.