Clary Sage plant profile
Salvia sclarea
A biennial flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Clary Sage
Clary sage is a biennial or short-lived perennial grown from seed for its tall, fragrant, white-to-lavender flower spikes and aromatic gray-green basal rosette. NCSU plants it in average, well-drained soil in full sun, warns that rich or overly fertilized soil produces tall plants with few flowers, and says to cut stalks back near the ground as blooms fade to encourage a second flush.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Clary Sage in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: winter wet rot, few flowers in rich soil, self seeding.
Next steps
Continue with Clary Sage
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.