Herb latin name: Salvia japonica


Family: Labiatae



Edible parts of Salvia japonica:

Children suck the flowers (for the sweet nectar?). The leaves are used as a flavouring, they are a sage substitute.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
75 cm
(2 feet)

Flowering:
August to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Woods and thickets in hills and mountains, C. and S. Japan.

Other uses of Salvia japonica:

A black dye is obtained from the plant, probably from the flowers.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse. 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.

Cultivation of Salvia japonica:

Woods and thickets in hills and mountains, C. and S. Japan.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Salvia japonica:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.