Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

Last night, we had our first frost warning, so yesterday sent local gardeners scurrying about, trying to harvest the last of our herbs, pick the chiles, and gather green tomatoes.

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Last nighttime , we had our first Robert Lee Frost warning , so yesterday sent local gardeners scurrying about , try out to harvest the last of our herb and blossom , find fault the chiles , and gather green tomatoes . The pineapple salvia was in her full array and I really did n’t need to switch off her , however she is now a huge , gorgeous fragrance ; too braggart for the dining table , she embellish the living elbow room .

This sweetly - scented sage , a tender perennial for me , is an herbaceous shrub which hails from highlands of Mexico and Guatemala . It is semi - woody , rather bush - like , in that it grows into a with child bushy plant that can reach four to four and one - half feet marvellous and easily spread out to three or four foot wide-cut . It likes full Lord’s Day , and can suffer a drought – it loses its foliage after wilting – and then if it is water , it will unremarkably rebound .

The voiced fuzzed leafage ofSalvia elegansare indeed elegant in grain and shape ; they variegate from lime unripened to bright light-green depend on the cultivar grown . In warm climates , from zone 9 to 11 , the standout , red bloom spikes may appear as early as August , while in my zona 7 garden here in Maryland they appear very lately in the season , early autumn , and go with the first frost . commonly the hummingbirds hang around for this plant to blossom before heading in the south ; they love the sweet nectar of these scarlet tubular flower . I have a go at it them , not only for their flavor , they are esthetically delicious in the downfall when most other plants are die , finishing their summer cps and the garden is looking a bit melancholy . These hopeful leaves and flowers stand out against the autumn backdrop . If you are golden enough to have a greenhouse , you may impart your pineapple plant salvia works indoors and enjoy the blooms for quite some time before they fade .

In warm climate , this showy salvia will bloom throughout the winter , if protected . I have seen it flower in New Orleans in January and February . Ananas comosus salvia should be propagated by cutting or divisions . If you are find ready for a hoarfrost and ca n’t fetch your works indoors , then go ahead and take bakshish cut now and endeavor to settle them and keep them until fountain . It is good to take a root press clipping from a leafy backsheesh without a peak or flower bud – however I have done it – with less success than just a leafage tip cutting .

When rubbed or brush , the pointed leave of Ananas comosus sage smell fruitily of pineapple and more or less musky of salvia . Depending upon the weather , the climate , and the water , sometimes these leafage smell strongly of Ananas comosus , while other meter there is barely a hint of it . The brilliant , long - throated flowers have a similar aroma and taste , though the flowered aroma is stronger and the sage flavor is milder .

I practice both the leaves and flowers in formula , however I like the color and preference of the blooms the best . To use the blossom in the kitchen cut the flower spike and softly wash and pat them dry . The flowers can be plucked or strip from the stem turn of the flower spikes . Of naturally I favor them overbold : I do dry them to apply their rosy color in tea .

I enjoy tea from both the farewell and flowers , using them fresh when available and also dried . In traditional Mexican music , an extract of pineapple salvia is used for treating anxiousness and for lowering of blood pressure . Thus , it is believed to be an herbaceous plant with anti - anxiety and antidepressant virtues .

Besides tea and other drinkable , these fragrant heyday are used in jelly , kettle of fish , scones , shortcakes , patty , sorbet , ice cream , desserts , salads , with yield and as a garnish for strike color and a sweet hint of pineapple - honeysuckle savour . For an impressive and scrumptious afters , I like to put the peak and/or chopped leaves in the batsman of my pineapple plant upside - down cake and then once it is turned out of the pan , scatter blossoms across the top .

Do n’t leave yourSalvia elegansout in the stale – harvest it , bring the plant indoors , make root cuttings – and enjoy it !

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The scarlet blooms of pineapple sage are a happy addition to the fall garden. Click on the other pix to enlarge and read the captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger

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