Many garden herbs become inedible when they are in bloom. Other specimens, on the other hand, benefit from flowering. But what about sage? Read here whether you should cut off the flowers on the sage or not.

In a nutshell

  • Sage blooms between May/June to July
  • flowers edible
  • can, but do not have to, be cut
  • reduce leaf flavor

Cut with flower

In principle, sage flowers can be cut off during the flowering period, but they do not have to be. Cutting has several advantages:

  • Flowers are edible and can therefore be used for food
  • stimulates growth
  • the earlier cutting takes place, the better, stronger the leaf growth
  • Prevention of uncontrolled sowing
  • Leaf aroma develops more intensely

Tip: In order to avoid cutting out the sage flowers as much as possible, we recommend buying the "Dalmatian sage" variety (Salvia officinalis subsp. major). This is a sub-variety of common sage (Salvia officinalis), which blooms little to rarely, but has significantly stronger leaf growth.

let the flower stand

The violet osmanthus flowers fill every garden and balcony with colour. This is the main reason why many hobby gardeners decide to leave them standing. This is quite possible, because unlike many other herbs, the sage flowers do not give the leaves a bitter or inedible taste. These can still be used as kitchen herbs. Only the aroma is reduced.

Bumblebee on a blossom of the grove sage (Salvia nemorosa)

There are other advantages as well as disadvantages if the sage blossoms are not cut off:

  • Food source for numerous insects such as bees
  • Self-sowing for wild growth ideal for natural gardens
  • no second bloom in autumn
  • restricted leaf growth
  • less defenses and consequently increased susceptibility to life-threatening damage from diseases and plant pests (due to higher nutrient consumption)

Cut dead flowers

If you decide to leave the sage blossoms, you only postpone the cutting date. Cutting off withered specimens is a must. Even in this state, the plant supplies the withered parts of the plant with nutrients. As a result, less is available for the development and growth of the leaves. The wilt often severely strains and weakens the salvia. The following should be considered when cutting off already withered flowers on the sage:

  • Pruning encourages the growth of second flowers around September
  • then blooms well into autumn
  • Always cut off wilted ones between mid-July and around the beginning of August
  • This results in improved nutrient supply to the leaves and a better aroma

Tip: Ideally, wilted flower stalks should be cut off before they are fully wilted. During flowering, the plant draws and stores significantly more nutrients, which can then be fed to the leaves by cutting them off early.

Trim flowers properly

When it comes to the right pruning technique, it depends on when and what the flower pruning should be used for:

for consumptionjust pluck the flowers
to remove wilted flowersPinch off flower heads
to promote growth and flavorCut off the flower stalks a hand’s breadth above the ground
to stimulate second floweringCut off the flower stalks a hand’s breadth above the ground
to prevent floweringCut the flower stalks in half

frequently asked Questions

Can the sage leaves be harvested during flowering?

Yes. With healthy sage, the leaves can also be removed during flowering. The further this has progressed, the lower the aroma content of the leaves. In the "worst" case, it is so low that the leaves are no longer suitable as a herb. It is therefore advisable to wait two to three weeks after the end of flowering before harvesting the leaves so that the aroma intensifies - or you can cut off the sage flowers immediately after they have formed.

What do I do with the leaves of cut sage shoots with flowers?

After removing the flower stalks, you can use the leaves in the kitchen as usual. Again, the aroma can be very minimal. You can also tie them as bouquets, let them dry and hang them up as decorations or place them in a vase.

Do ornamental sage flowers also need to be cut off?

Yes and no. Ornamental sage's "main job" is to fill the environment with its flower color and scent. Therefore you should only cut them off during the flowering period, when there is sparse growth or the plant is weakened due to a disease or pest infestation. However, the cut when the flowers begin to wilt is important in order to be able to benefit from a second flowering in late summer/early autumn.

Category:

Vegetable garden