Botanical Name: Salvia elegans
How to grow it:
Pineapple sage is a hardy perennial bush to 1.5 metres and needs a bit of space in your garden – not really suited to growing amongst annual vegetables. Prefers sun and well drained soil and flowers profusely throughout it’s growing season. Attractive red flowers makes it right at home in your ornamental garden.
Adding fertiliser and compost produces more tender leaves, but plant can handle pretty tough conditions. Will die down in frost and wilt in drought conditions, but always recovers as conditions improve.
It will do very well in large pots, but needs to be divided regularly as it will become potbound after a year or two..
Propogation is easily achieved with tip cuttings, and plant can be dug up and divided. I’ve never bothered to try and collect seed as it does so well in my sub-tropical environment.
Nutrition:
Pineapple sage has high levels of vitamins A,B,C and K. It also contains potassium, manganese & folate. Quite nutritious for something so easy to grow!
In traditional medicine it has been used to treat depression, anxiety and high blood pressure.
Using it in the kitchen:
Pineapple sage has a subtle flavour of – you guessed it – pineapple! Pick younger leaves as the older leaves are chewy and slightly bitter. Flowers are also edible and can be used as a garnish.
I like to use the leaves in salads and sandwiches for a taste burst and a bit of novelty, and they are notably good for fruit salads and drinks.
You could use the older leaves in cooking, but their flavour would be lost.
Pineapple sage is a worthy survival plant as it’s perennial, easy to grow, and adds flavour and novelty to fresh food.
