Clary sage

Clary sage is a hardy, fuzzy-looking, bi-annual, perennial plant. It can grow to a height of 45-100 cm and captures attention due to its long rods of flowers and square stalks. Its flowers provide a particularly fragrant and abundant nectar that attracts bees and certain butterflies. Clary sage is primarily found in southern Europe and also in western Asia, northern Africa and throughout the United States. For centuries, this plant has been known to have beneficial soothing medicinal benefits. It was a sacred herb for the Romans who used it as a ‘well-being plant’. In France, Charlemagne wanted it planted in people’s gardens to improve health. During the Renaissance, it was used to help soothe the skin. Today, a molecule called ‘sclareolide’ is extracted from the plant (once the plant has matured fully).