Sage Clary

A large shrubby plant with pink flowers and purple-green bracts. The aromatic young leaves can be used to flavour soups and meat stews, or dried and added to potpourri. 

The distilled essential oil is used widely in perfumes and as a muscatel flavouring in vermouths, wines and liqueurs. It is also used in aromatherapy. 

Seeds, soaked in cold water, form a mucilage, which can be used to remove small particles from the eyes, hence its name, ‘Clear Eye’, or Clary. 

Native to the Mediterranean basin, it will peform well in most conditions but prefers full sun and free draining soils.