Always Growing

This post, “Pina Colada, Anyone?” was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana 

There is one plant that always reminds me of pina coladas every time I touch it.  The heavenly-scented herb I am referring to is pineapple sage( Salvia elegans).  It can make a hot summer day seem cooler by just rubbing your hands on the foliage and releasing that cool, pineapple scent.  But, that’s not all, it makes a great garnish on pina coladas and pineapple sherbet and can be used to make an herbal tea.

The fantastic aroma isn’t the only nice thing about this plant.  It has dozens and dozens of bright red blossoms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.  Down South it will start blooming in the early summer.   It also grows very quickly and makes a nice mounded plant about three feet high.

I have grown the regular variety for years, and it just can’t be beat.  It is a tender perennial which is supposed to be hardy to 20 degrees, but I have had it overwinter with no problems.  Of course, I cover the base with a thick layer of pine straw.  I have read where it often will return from the roots after a hard freeze.  It is very easy to propagate this sage.  Cuttings root quickly in water; they have also layered themselves in the garden.

Last year I found a variety called “Golden Delicious” which has chartreuse to gold leaves.  I planted this in the same bed with a Marguerite sweet potato vine, and the two complemented each other nicely.  I cut back the frost damaged stems in late December, and already it has put out a tremendous amount of new growth.

This is a great plant to have in your garden, just make sure you have it where you can reach out easily to rub the leaves to release that pina colada smell.