Propagating Pineapple Sage

Pineapple Sage (Salvia Elegans) is one of my most favorite herbs. It’s what I call a multi-dimensional plant. It’s not only a great herb to use in fresh salads, cocktails, teas, pork and chicken marinades, cheeses and garnishes, but it also smells heavenly and looks great in the herb or butterfly garden. In fact, the Sulfur butterflies might actually love it more than me. Late in the summer, when the pineapple sage blooms it’s lovely red, petite-trumpet petals the Sulfur butterflies flock to it. As well, as the occasional hummingbird. It’s certainly worth propagating to add a few plants outside of your traditional herb garden.

Like most of the Lamiaceae Family (mint family), Pineapple Sage is easy to propagate. Since Pineapple Sage can’t survive our Zone 7 winters. I always bring a plant inside the greenhouse to over winter, but you don’t have to have a greenhouse to keep your pineapple sage going. A nice sunny window or grow light works well, too.

To propagate, I like to take a few cuttings and simply place them in a clear plastic or glass container of water in a nice warm, sunny spot. (I recycle plastic water bottles to use for my cuttings.)

New Pineapple Sage cuttings placed in water.

Then it’s just a matter of time. Two or three weeks later, roots are visible. I’ve been told to take cuttings from new growth, but honestly I’ve taken cuttings from new and old, and they have all developed roots. Once the roots are two inches in length, I pot the plant in a mix of potting soil and vermiculite.

Newly rooted cuttings, just potted.

Then just give the new plantings time to flourish. Make sure to keep the soil moist and in a warm, bright location. Below are the cuttings- one month later.

The same cuttings from above, just one month later.

It’s still far too cold for these new babies to go out in the garden, but they will be a great size for instant impact in the herb and butterfly garden in a few months. But remember, these sun-loving herbs can get up to 3 feet tall and wide. Make sure they are placed in a spacious spot. Also, they really need the sun to flower, at least 6 hours.

I always like to propagate a few extra plants. They are great to share with friends.