Woody Stems
As a frost-hardy perennial, older sage stems tend to get tough and woody. When selecting stems to harvest, look for leaves on fuzzy, soft green stems. Pinch down to where stems turn brown and stiff. Pinch back tender branches to promote bushiness, or single leaves as needed.
Flowers and Seeds
Sage will flower in late spring of its second year. Flowers can be white, purple, or even pink depending on the variety. Allow the flowers to die back to harvest seeds from inside each blossom. Cut spent blooms after harvesting the seeds to allow the plant to focus energy on leaf production.
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Read up on how to care for sage here. For information on preserving sage, please check out our complete Preserving Herbs guide.
