divaqs's Blog

Painted Sage – Edible Flower?
Jun 25, 2007 | 10:49 AM PST
Tags: Painted sage , Clary Sage , Horminum Sage , Salvia viridis

Painted sage, also known as Salvia viridis, Clary Sage, or Horminum Sage is technically not an edible flower, but the vibrantly colored leaves that at first glance look like flowers are actually the edible part of the plant.

In the below picture you can hardly see the small flowers lower on the stems, but the colorful top leaves really stand out in their shades of purple, red, pink, and mauve.

I planted these last year, they reseeded, and came back even stronger this year, with no work needed on my part.

In my yard, the plants are roughly up to two feet tall and started putting on their visual display in May.

I’ve read that they are great dried and due to the nice aroma can be used as “everlasting flowers.”

Both the seeds and leaves are edible. The leaves can be cooked or used raw in soups, salads, and cooked greens.  The seeds are used as flavoring in things like liquors, which are supposed to greatly increase the potency of the brew.

The taste of the leaves is floral, so something that wouldn't be bad in a salad.