Berggarten Sage
It's all about the leaves & a Thanksgiving Garland
The dried leaves of Salvia officinalis ‘Berggarten’, or commonly known as tea sage, can be added to tea or herb blends. In the garden, ‘Berggarten’ sage has a clean, mounding habit, requires next to no maintenance, and emits a classic earthy aroma. It may not be a reliable bloomer in some zones, but that’s OK, because it’s all about the leaves—plump and oval shaped, their soft gray-greenness makes you want to reach out and touch them.
IN THE GARDEN
Available in green and variegated forms, ‘Berggarten’ sage thrives in full sun as a perennial plant in USDA zones 5 to 8, where the stunning purple edible flowers pop in June or July. In all other hardiness zones, it can be grown as an annual or can be overwintered indoors. It is compact, woody stemmed, and shrubby in nature, typically growing 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) tall. The strongly aromatic gray-green leaves can measure 4 inches (10 cm) across, substantially longer than many garden-variety sages. Drought tolerant and deer resistant, ‘Berggarten’ sage is a garden standout in so many ways. We love how its fuzzy, floppy leaves mix with other perennials in a container, border, or rock garden. It also looks great cascading over a raised bed in herb or vegetable plots. Prune back as necessary for shaping in early in spring or fall. Don’t prune into old woody growth, because this may stress the plant. If the base of the plant becomes woody, replace the plant.
HARVEST
Harvest fresh leaves as needed throughout the growing season, and harvest larger stems for preserving before the first frost. Dried sage has a stronger flavor than fresh sage, and we like to have it on hand throughout the winter for use in the kitchen. We use it like common culinary sage. It makes a fun pesto and a soothing tea. Flash-fry the leaves and sprinkle them on fresh pasta or soup. Add stems to cut-flower arrangements, kitchen wreaths, and garlands.
SAGE GARLAND
During the late season before the first frost, we harvest stems of ‘Berggarten’ sage for drying purposes. This beautiful garland first adorns the center of our dining table and is later hung to complete the drying process. A perfect garden project for Thanksgiving! This garland will fit nicely on a 6-foot (1.8-m) table. You will need 3 to 5 yards of 28-gauge floral paddle wire for this project, depending upon the size of your garland.
Materials
25 to 30 fresh ‘Berggarten’ sage stems with leaves (make harvesting cuts as long as possible, and use fewer stems for a smaller table)
Paddle wire (we recommend 28 gauge size)
Garden twine - hemp or natural
Process
Lay a stem of sage on top of one end of a 7-foot (2-m) length of hemp twine or other natural-colored twine, with the sage leaves hiding the end of the twine and the stem end pointing down the length of twine. The twine will be the structure upon which the garland is built.
Wrap 28-gauge paddle wire (the kind florists use), still attached to the spool, three or four times around the stems and the piece of twine. Keeping the wire attached to the spool, lay the second stem of sage just below the top of the wrapped first stem, slightly overlapping so that the leaves of the second piece cover the stem of the first piece, and wrap the wire around both stems and the twine. Continue adding sage and wrapping wire down the length of the twine.
When the garland has reached the desired length, turn the last stem of sage backward and tuck it into the end; then wrap it with wire to secure it in place.
Place the finished garland on your table and enjoy it as a beautifully scented fall decoration for up to 2 days. After that, you can hang the garland in a cool, dry place to finish drying, which will take about 10 days to dry completely. Use sage leaves directly from the garland as needed, or remove all of the leaves at once and store them in a jar.
The dried sage will last for up to a year in your pantry.
The Sage Garland project is featured in Stefani’s second book, Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants (Ten Speed Press).
2025 Events & Classes
Just in time for the holidays, we have two series of garden classes in 2025 that make for great holiday gifts! The classes are available as single classes, but for those interested in an entire series we are offering a holiday discount. See our website for more information or shoot us an email at hello@hdcgardens.com.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Stefani
Homegrown Harvest: A Guide to Growing Your Own Food
February 27th & March 29th Grow Your Own Salad -Lafayette, Ca Ever dream of savoring a fresh, crisp salad made from your own garden? Join us for our "Grow Your Own Salad" hands-on workshop where you will learn the process of growing and harvesting salad greens.
April 17 & April 26 Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes - Lafayette, Ca Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this course offers invaluable insights into selecting the perfect tomato varieties, preparing your soil, and implementing effective planting techniques.
August 7 & September 6 The Fall/Winter Garden - Lafayette, Ca Learn how to plant garlic, cover crops and cool season vegetables to enjoy in the fall and spring edible garden.
Herbal Magic: Cannabis & Herbal Gardening
April 10 Herbal Magic: Cultivating Culinary & Medicinal Plants - Lafayette, Ca. Join Stefani Bittner and fellow Ten Speed Press author, Penny Barthel in a four class series on growing culinary and medicinal herbs, including cannabis, in the garden. These two master plantswomen and expert gardeners will take you through every season in the herb garden, from seed planting to salve making and every step in between.
May 22 Summer Herbs & Cannabis: Companion Planting and Care - Lafayette, Ca Dive into the world of synergistic gardening with our specialized class, "Summer Herbs & Cannabis: Companion Planting and Care." This class is designed for gardeners looking to optimize their green spaces through the art of companion planting, focusing on the harmonious cultivation of annual and perennial herbs, including cannabis. You’ll be equipped with the skills to create a thriving garden that leverages the natural benefits of plant relationships.
September 18 Harvesting Excellence: Final Care for Herbs and Cannabis -Lafayette, Ca This hands-on course is designed for gardeners who want to master the final stages of the growing cycle, ensuring that their herbs and cannabis are harvested and processed with precision and care.
November 13 Kitchen Alchemy with Herbs and Cannabis - Lafayette, Ca. Join Penny and Stefani in the kitchen as we use the bounty of the garden in bespoke creations in the kitchen. This is what the summer herb garden was heading for all season! We become kitchen alchemists as we transform our harvested herbs into tisane, tincture, infused oil, salve, and delicious beverages and edibles. Penny will offer instruction on the unique properties of cannabis for health and wellness as we include it in the herbal ingredients in our creations. Come prepared to learn by doing as we make several favorite herbal recipes for mind, body and soul.