Tri-color Sage

Tricolor Sage | Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ | Variegated Sage | Salvia ‘Tricolor’

Tricolor Sage is a highly ornamental, aromatic culinary perennial prized for its striking, variegated foliage featuring a beautiful mix of gray-green leaves irregularly marbled with bright white and flushed with vibrant pink and purple. This eye-catching herb is known for its bushy, evergreen habit and its ability to deliver a classic, earthy flavor essential to traditional stuffings, roasted poultry, and savory autumnal dishes. Its colorful, textured foliage and concentrated flavor make it a standout choice for kitchen gardens, mixed herb containers, drought-tolerant borders, and culinary landscapes. With its resilient nature and dual-purpose appeal, Tricolor Sage offers gourmet flavor and dramatic visual interest with straightforward care.

Growing Tricolor Sage

Light: Full sun; thrives in bright, direct sunlight to produce the most robust growth, the most vibrant pink and white variegation, and concentrated essential oils for the best flavor.

Soil: Light, well-drained soil; highly adaptable but requires excellent drainage, as it is highly susceptible to root rot in heavy, wet, or waterlogged soils. It performs best in sandy or rocky, slightly alkaline mixes.

Water: Low to moderate; water regularly until established, then allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. It is highly drought-tolerant once mature.

Maintenance: Exceptionally low maintenance. Harvest leaves frequently for kitchen use. Prune the plant back by about one-third in early spring to maintain a tight, compact shape, encourage a fresh flush of colorful foliage, and prevent woody, leggy growth.

Wildlife: Highly attractive to bees and butterflies when flowering; naturally deer and rabbit resistant due to its strongly aromatic oils.

Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 6–9; slightly less cold-hardy than standard sage, it requires excellent winter drainage to reliably survive in the colder regions of its hardiness range.

Shipping Info

Tricolor Sage plants are shipped as healthy young starts in 3" nursery pots. Allow 1–2 weeks after arrival for plants to recover from shipping and resume active growth before repotting or planting outdoors.