Mendel’s Gardens

Salvia sclarea

Clary Sage · Clary

Family LamiaceaeGenus Salvia

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
Biennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
2-4 ftPlant Finder
Spread
2-3 ftPlant Finder
Flower
Showy, fragrant; white to lavenderPlant Finder
Blooms
June to AugustPlant Finder
Native range
Europe to Central AsiaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
5-9Plant Finder
Note
Deno tested a 60 cm and a 180 cm form separately; only the tall one germinates cold.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.
Note
Fragrant leaves. Tolerates deer, drought and shallow rocky soil.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun
Soil
Average, medium moisture, well-drained
Watering
Medium

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

This source reports 8 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

61% germination in 2–6 days.

The best of eight. Deno's 180 cm form.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

46% germination in 2–12 days.

Light is worth fifteen points on this form. Deno's 60 cm form.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

43% germination in 2–7 days.

Dark costs the tall form eighteen points. Deno's 180 cm form.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    41%, over 7-12 weeks.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

41% germination in 49–84 days.

The tall form germinates cold; the short form barely does at all. Deno's 180 cm form.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

40% germination.

40% outdoors. Deno's 60 cm form.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

31% germination in 2–12 days.

Dark costs the short form fifteen points. Deno's 60 cm form.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

27% germination.

27% outdoors, against 40% for the short form. Deno's 180 cm form.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    1% here.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 2%.

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

1% in the cold and 2% after it. The short form will not take a cold start. Deno's 60 cm form.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. sclarea (60 cm. form) germ. 70L(46% in 2-12 d), 70D(31% in 2-12 d), 40(1%)-70(2%), and 40% in outdoor treatment. S. sclarea (180 cm. form) germ. 70L(61% in 2-6 d), 70D(43% in 2-7 d), 40(41% in 7-12 w)-70, and 27% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.