Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica - Clary Sage, a show stopping biennial of easy nature and culture, dominates the July full sun border with bunches of tall, broad pink and white wands. Branched stalks are replete with countless bracts and sexual parts forming the entire flower structures, the aggregate a very large, eye-popping inflorescence. After flowering this will self sow. Large, hairy and heavily crinkled leaves tend to be triangular with rounded corners. A great bee and butterfly plant Clary Sage is as beautiful an ornamental as a respectable wildlife plant. More than just an easy-going beautiful miracle in the summer garden Clary Sage has been utilized through the centuries as an anti-convulsive, antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent and bactericidal. It has also been conferred to relieve painful menstruation, night sweats associated with tuberculosis, gas and indigestion plus an extensive list of other health issues and annoyances. If you consider medicinal use of any wild or garden plant always consult your doctor and a knowledgeable and trusty herbalist steeped in lore before an attempt.

Historically, wine and beer makers often added or brewed Clary Sage into their recipes for enhancement. Why? Interestingly, this sage also contains euphoric properties. One may momentarily experience elation if one cups flowers and sniffs the mildly spicy fragrance into the recesses of nasal passages. Now kids, don't get any wild ideas. Drying, processing and smoking will only fry your lungs and provide no discernible high but may turn your stomachs and / or manifest in a massive headache the likes of which you would not wish to repeat.