Red Sage.
Also see Red Sage - Sage of Vitue - Wood Sage.
Salvia hortensis.
The common sage of our gardens. It is a kind of shrubby plant, a foot or two high, and full of branches The stem is tough, hard, woody, and covered with a brown rough bark; the smaller branches are reddish, the leaves are oblong and broad; they stand on long foot stalks, and are of a singular rough surface, and of a reddish colour. The flowers grow on stalks that rise only at that season of the year, and stand up a great deal above the rest of the surface of the plant; they are large and blue, and are of the figure of the dead nettle flowers, only they gape vastly more. The whole plant has a pleasant smell. The leaves and tops are used, and they are best fresh; the common way of taking them is in infusion, or in form of what is called sage tea, is better than any other: they are a cordial, and good against all diseases of the nerves: they promote perspiration, and throw any thing out which ought to appear upon the skin. The juice of sage works by urine, and promotes the menses.
