Pineapple sage grow and care – shrub of the genus also known as Tangerine sage or Salvia elegans, Pineapple sage perennial evergreen or deciduous plant, also possible to grow as annual plant, grow for the edible leaves and also used as ornamental plant for fragrant and the leaves, can grow in tropic, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+, can grow in hardiness zone 10a with overwinter care.
Pineapple sage edible leaves
Leaves edible, color light to dark green in oval shape, the taste remind with imagination to pineapple
Flowers red and fragrance the flowers in tubular shape and attract pollinators
How to grow Pineapple sage – growing conditions and care:
Moist, well-drained soil, rich soil
How to care: Winter care require over that plant in the base possible with wood chip or dead leaves
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed (care instruction bellow) / Vegetative reproduction
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction? No,
How to propagate: Propagating possible by bending a branch over and covering it with soil, or by cutting, the cutting possible to put in water and switch the water every few days or put the stem in soil better peat soil and better with root growth hormone, in both cutting methods better to do it in warm season but not in hot summer days, with high humidity and better in half shade
Difficulties or problems when growing: Sensitive to heat wave, better to grow it in half shade when growing with hot summer
Planting season? Spring to summer in hardiness zone 10a, spring or autumn in hardiness zone 10b, if the summer not too much hot possible in summer, all year in hardiness zone 11+, as annual plant in spring
Pests and diseases: Aphids
Pruning season: Autumn to Winter
How to prune: Dead leaves and stems, when grow it for edible reasons better to prune the bloom stems in order to get better quality of leaves
Size of the plant: 50-120 cm, 20-48 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a planter / flower pot / containers: Yes, when grow in container, size 10-20L (2.6-5.2 gallons), require small to average amount of water with well-drained soil and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom of pot, every few years to switch soil can be all or just part of the soil, soil need to be well ventilated and make enough hole in the containers with good drainage, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Winter, spring, summer
General information about the flower Red flowers
Pollination is done by: Bees, butterfly, hummingbird, attract pollinators
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season: All year in hardiness zone 11+ and in hardiness zone 10 from spring to autumn,
How to harvest the leaves? After the plant establish can with the stems
Information about leaves: Leaves are oval the color light to dark green, the taste remind with imagination to pineapple
Uses of Pineapple sage leaves: Beverage
How to grow Pineapple sage from seeds
Sowing requirement: Better to sow it in temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) possible in 15-29C (59-84F) but will take more time to germinate and less seeds will germinate
Saving and care seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location better in root temperature or refrigerator
Sowing season: Spring to summer in hardiness zone lower that 10a (include) spring, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b+ spring, autumn or winter, and better not to sow it in hot summer days
How to plant: Plant in sunny location until 25C (77F), temperature that will be above in half shade
Planting spacing: 30*40cm (12*16 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 3-6mm (0.2-0.4 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, humidity, sunny location
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water, don’t let the soil dry and keep the soil moist
Germination time: 2-3 weeks in optimal condition but can take 5 weeks
Condition of seedling: Moist soil, sunny location but if it’s in the summer need to increase the amount of water
