Salvia officinalis, commonly known as garden sage and common sage, is a perennial shrub-like plant in the mint family. Although the herb is original to the Mediterranean region, it is now widely naturalized throughout much of the globe. Sage is also one of the most commonly grown culinary herbs in North America and is considered an essential seasoning for turkey and stuffing at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
The genus name for sage is adapted from the Latin word salvere, which means “to save.” The plant is aptly named since it has a long history of delivering salvation from a variety of ailments. In medieval Europe, in particular, sage was considered a panacea. In fact, the herb was a key ingredient in the classic Four Thieves Vinegar formula that reputedly deterred the plague.
