Lavender and sage are both aromatic herbs, commonly known by many people but not widely used. They serve almost the same purpose to those who seek to use them, and that’s why some people wonder, is lavender sage? While both have few similarities, it is wrong to say that lavender is sage.
This article will answer the question, ‘is lavender sage?’ and outline the major differences between lavender and sage for clarity.
Is lavender sage?
Many people find it difficult to compare plants of the same class or genus because they usually have few characteristics that are either the same or closely comparable.
For lavender and sage, they have almost the same characteristics, and if not keen, one may presume that lavender is sage.
Differences between sage and lavender
The most visible difference between sage last and lavender is the flower. The size of the flower, its color, blooming patterns, and season are not the same. Here are more elaborated characteristics of both plants that will help you differentiate them.
1. Blooming season
Under favorable conditions, sage blooms in midsummer, somewhere in September or October. The blooming period for sage is very short in these conditions, but it can be quite long in cooler areas.
On the other side, lavender is known to bloom very early, mostly in late spring to early summer. Expect to see lavender blooms in July or early August. Their blooming time is longer, goes up to the end of summer, and does not depend on climate conditions.
2. Flower color
The color of the flowers produced by lavender and sage is the most visible aspect that can make you realize that the two are not the same. Sage flowers are usually blue with a hint of purple, while lavender flowers boast a wider range of flower colors.
They can be blue, white, purple, or even pink. Though rare, there are times when lavender will produce yellow blooms.
3. Flower size
Sage has more flowers than a standard lavender. The number of clusters that grow on sage is large and hard to count, but you can easily count the flower clusters for lavender.
Additionally, sage flowers are more tubular than lavender flowers. Sage blooms tend to be spread all over the stalk, while the lavender flowers grow up on top of the plant tip and are much closer. In general, lavender flowers are smaller than sage, making lavender appear more colorful and attractive.
4. Smell
The smell produced by both sage and lavender flowers can easily be noticed and differentiated. Even though both produce sweet fragrances, lavender wins over sage as its smell is more concentrated than that of sage.
Lavender blooms have a lavender smell widely used in perfumes and potpourri sachets normally placed in clothes drawers, wardrobes, and suitcases to keep the clothes smelling sweet and fresh.
Sage has a hint of mint or sage smell, which is aromatic. Even though it is from the mint family, it is not recommended to be used as a food spice, however much you like the mint aroma.
5. Overall plant size
Lavender is dense and more compact than sage. It grows not more than 3 feet tall, but sage on the other side can grow up to 5 feet tall and spread out to about 4 feet wide.
6. Soil needs
Sage grows well in soils with a neutral or alkaline pH, while lavender prefers more alkaline soil than neutral pH. Both plants can grow in slightly acidic soils of pH 6.5 – 6.8, but lavender will produce very few flowers.
Besides soil pH, lavender and sage require soil with good drainage capabilities. The soil should not get waterlogged since this will easily kill the plants.
7. USDA cold hardiness zones
Lavender and sage do not tolerate the same cold levels. Sage is more tolerant to coldness and can grow well in cold areas of hardiness zones 5 to 9 and does not need protection during rains or frost fall.
Lavender, on the other hand, is generally not hardy or cold. The hardiest variety of lavender can tolerate slight cold in zones 5 – 8, while most varieties cannot even survive in hardiness zones above 7.
For the one hardy variety, it should be protected from cold and rain during fall and winter. Generally, if you live in a cold region, you should just forget about planting lavender.
Is Lavender Sage?: Conclusion
Lavender and sage are aromatic plants and can be hard to differentiate. The challenge of differentiating the two makes some people believe that lavender is sage, but lavender is not sage.
Hopefully, this article will help you differentiate the two plants with ease.
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