Pineapple Sage

I originally planted this beauty into my garden because it strikes so easily from cuttings (which I took from a friends garden), & because it flowers all through winter feeding & attracting many bees & beneficial insects into the garden. Little did I know at the time of it's medicinal properties, making this an excellent all rounder in the garden.

Kids also love this plant as the flowers are full of sweet tasting nectar, which can be sucked out...creating hours of entertainment for young kids...

If you’re planting just one plant for attracting beneficial insects during the cooler months + brightening the garden + providing hours of entertainment for kids + medicinal properties, this could be it.

Pineapple sage is rich in vitamin K, A, C, & B6. It also contains manganese, dietary fiber, potassium, folate & the red flowers are a rich source of antioxidants.

It's native to Mexico where it's traditionally used for anxiety, depression & mental fatigue. It’s also been used historically to combat insomnia, lower blood pressure, and treat anxiety and nervous system disorders.

I finely slice the leaves into a mixed wild salad, including fruit salads, add leaves to herbal teas & baking, and use the flowers for decoration in salads & baking. You could experiment adding it to cocktails, infusions, syrups, jams, jellies, marinades and sauces: it has a very unique and lovely scent & flavor profile.

Don't be fooled by the ‘Sage’ name, it doesn't taste like Purple or White Sage at all.

However it does have a slight pineapple scent, especially when you rub it between your fingers, which is where the common name ‘Pineapple’ Sage comes from.

To learn more about medicinal herbs that are easy to grow at home and how to create your own herbal remedies, check out my Grassroots Herbalism Guide.