Woodland sage
A violet-spiked sage of steppe and dry grassland; it reblooms after cutting, offers honey bees nectar all summer and is one of the toughest bee-garden plants.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-0,6 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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A sage of steppe, dry meadows and roadsides from central and eastern Europe to Anatolia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its corolla tube is shorter than that of Salvia pratensis, so honey bees reach the nectar more easily. In eastern Europe it is known as a good honey plant, and many garden cultivars have been bred from it.
Flowering
Dense purple to deep blue spikes start opening in June. If faded spikes are cut off, it flowers a second time in August-September, so the plant can serve bees for nearly 3 months. It keeps producing nectar even in hot, sunny and dry conditions.
Honey and pollen
There is no monofloral honey; it goes into steppe and highland honeys. Its pollen contribution is moderate.
Note for the beekeeper
Being tolerant of drought and cold, it is very well suited to apiary surroundings, road banks and garden borders. Pruning after flowering gives a second flowering and helps bridge the summer dearth. It is easily propagated from seed or by division.