Sage (Salvia officinalis)

NATIVE RANGE:

Cooking sage is native to the Mediterranean region, other varieties worldwide

DESCRIPTION:

Woody shrubs with hairy leaves and purple flowers

sage-leaves-salvia-officinalis Photo 142169167 © Bohuslav Jelen - Dreamstime.com.jpg

common sage - ID 119333635 © Patrick Gosling | Dreamstime.com.jpg

PLANT DEFENSES:

The scent of sage, and other plants in the mint family, is primarily a defense mechanism. When the plant is touched, little oil sacs underneath the leaf rupture and release what we think of as a pleasant fragrance. However, deer, rabbits, and other grazing animals think it smells foul, and leave the plant alone. Of course they will still eat it if they are hungry and nothing else is around, it is easier to deal with than thorns, or plants that have other, stronger defense mechanisms.