Garden sage is one of the most widely grown garden herbs that is greatly appreciated for its culinary flavoring. The true species grows as a small herbaceous perennial that can live for many years in gardens. A number of cultivars have been produced and availability varies from nursery to nursery on a seasonal basis. Most cultivars grow 12-15 in. high and 24-30 in. across. During the spring months they produce tall spikes with colorful blue to purple flowers. Their leave contain oils that are pleasingly fragrant; these leaves can be dried or used fresh for flavoring food.

The Garden sage can be grown in vegetable gardens, in raised planters and among other flowering perennials in Mediterranean style gardens throughout the Inland Empire. It is truly a vegetable garden plant when grown in full sun in organic soils and with regular moisture; in landscape plantings it does best with moderate water throughout the year. It loses some of its foliage character and density in later summer and fall with prolonged drought stress and seasonal cold. It can be clipped in winter to stimulate robust springtime growth.