MHG Volunteer Blog 29: Clary sage

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

The recent downpour had left the Medieval Herb Garden a bit too damp to walk on. We don’t want to squash all the air out of it. Instead, Carole pricked-out the winter savory seedlings for selling later on in the year. 

Winter savory is growing near the liquorice. It has an amazing citrusy smell that everyone immediately loves when they smell it. So, we are glad to be able to add it to our stock of home-grown herbs!

Winter savory seedlings in the Medieval Herb Garden

Carole was on her own today. She also chopped back some weld. This will be dried and used in future dyeing workshops, along with our woad. She then spent half an hour re-writing the plant labels for the sales barrow. Pencil, felt-tip and ink don’t seem to out-last the sun, so it looks like pyrography may be the way to go.

Plant of the Week - Clary sage (salvia sclerea)

The Latin name for clary sage is 'Salvia sclarea'. It comes from the Latin 'salvere' (to feel well, to feel healthy, heal). The English name 'clary' derives from Middle English 'clarie', via Anglo-Norman 'sclaree'. This in turn is from Late or Medieval Latin 'sclarēia', a word derived from 'clarus', meaning clear. Its other names are 'clear-eye sage', 'see bright' and 'tout-bonne'.

Clary sage was first introduced into Britain from Southern Europe in 1562. It is a deciduous, bushy, clump-forming, biennial plant.

In its first year clary sage forms a rosette of leaves. In its second year a 3-to-4-foot flower stalk forms with thick, square stems covered in hairs. The leaves are approximately 1 ft long at the base, and 6 in long higher up the plant. The upper leaf surface is wrinkled, and covered with glandular hairs.

The 1 inch flowers are in whorls, with between two and six flowers in each whorl. They are held in large colourful bracts that range in colour from pale mauve to lilac or white-to-pink.

Clary sage will grow in any south-facing, well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade.

Clary sage growing in the MHG

Culinary uses of clary sage

When clary sage is very young, the leaves can be used for cooking. Chopped leaves used to be dipped in batter and fried to produce fritters.

The flowers have a long history of being added to salads. They made a popular drink before black tea arrived from China.

In the Middle Ages, it was common to use clary sage instead of hops in beer. It was also used to flavour vermouths, wines and liqueurs.

In Germany it is known as Muscatel sage. It was infused with elderflower and used in the 1500s to flavour wines. It made an imitation Muscatel (a wine made from muscat grapes).

Folklore and other facts about clary sage

Clary sage is associated with vision. It was used as an aid for meditation, even opening the ‘third eye’ of clairvoyants. It was thought to enhance the ability to dream and remember dreams. It was also used in love spells.

Clary sage contains sclareol. This is a scent molecule that can be used to mimic the effects of ambergris in perfume production.

Medieval uses*

Clary sage's medicinal uses have been described as far back as the 300s BC.

It was called 'clear eye sage'. Ancient herbalists used it as an eyewash to soothe and cleanse the eye. This was because of its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It was also used for intestinal complaints, colic, soft bones and fractures. It could also be used to rejuvenate and calm the skin.

The chemical sclareol, found in the flowers, has also been explored for its potential in treating conditions like arthritis and dysmenorrhea.

Clary sage oil was renowned for its stress-relieving properties. The oil contains compounds such as linalyl acetate and linalool. These are known to have calming effects on the nervous system, promote relaxation, and even improve sleep quality.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.