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Clary (Salvia sclarea), whole plant
  • Clary — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Clary — seasonal appearance
  • Clary in a garden setting

Clary

Salvia sclarea

Easy · Beginner friendly

About Clary

Clary Sage is a striking biennial or short-lived perennial native to the Mediterranean, famed for its bold architectural presence. Large felted silver-green basal leaves give rise to towering branched flower stalks 3-5 feet tall, topped with showy pink, lilac, or white bracts in early summer. The musky essential oil has long been used in perfumery. Widely grown in American herb gardens, dry borders, and as a cut or dried flower.

  • Medicinal
  • Fragrant
  • Drought-tolerant
  • Deer-resistant
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -30°F (-34°C)
USDA hardiness zones 4–9

How to care for Clary

Watering

  • Springevery 7 days
  • Summerevery 5 days
  • Fallevery 10 days
  • Winterpause watering

Soil · Well-draining

  • Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
  • Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
  • DrainageLECA / gravel20%

Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.

FERTILIZER

  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
Get watering reminders for Clary — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeMediterranean, Western Asia
  • Height3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Spread2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m)
  • Flower colorPink, White, Purple
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilSandy, Well-drained, Alkaline
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

Jun–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Pink and lilac bracts June to August

Fragrance

STRONG FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a herbaceous, musky, bittersweet scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight · Pets Moderate

sclareol, linalool, and linalyl acetate

Slight

  • Leaf
  • Flower
  • Ingestion
  • Inhalation

EXPOSURE Eating leaves and flowers. Inhaling leaves and flowers.

EFFECT Drowsiness with large doses and headache.

NOTE Essential oil may cause drowsiness; essential oils are generally toxic to pets.

Moderate

  • All
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating any part of the plant.

EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and cNS depression.

NOTE Essential oil may cause drowsiness; essential oils are generally toxic to pets.

Moderate

  • All
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating any part of the plant.

EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and cNS depression.

NOTE Essential oil may cause drowsiness; essential oils are generally toxic to pets.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Clary · Native
  • Native
  • Introduced
  • Mediterranean
  • Western Asia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Clary

Salvia sclarea is native to the northern Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. The Latin epithet sclarea derives from clarus (clear), referencing medieval European use of seed mucilage as an eyewash to remove foreign particles—hence the common name clary or clear-eye. Theophrastus and Dioscorides mentioned it in antiquity.

In medieval times it flavored ale as a hops substitute. The plant gained modern economic importance in Provence and Russia as a source of sclareol, the precursor to synthetic ambroxide which replaced whale-derived ambergris in fine perfumery after whaling bans. France remains a major producer.

The cultivar var. turkestanica with rose-pink bracts is the most widely grown ornamental form, admired for dramatic flower spikes reaching 4-5 feet. Cultivated since antiquity for its essential oil, used in perfumery (a key ingredient in many classic fragrances) and as a flavoring in vermouth and muscatel wine—its name 'muscatel sage' references this use. Used by medieval herbalists to treat eye conditions, reflected in the Latin 'clarus' (clear).

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Clary embodies clarity, a name derived from its traditional use for clearing irritated vision in old European herbalism. It also carries dignity — large bracted flower spikes in lavender and white give it a stately, architectural presence in the herb garden. A biennial that offers both visual grandeur and a quiet old reminder about taking care of your eyes.

  • Clarity — traditional use for clearing vision
  • Dignity — stately architectural presence

Where the Name Comes From

'Sclarea' likely derives from 'clarus' (clear), referencing the historic use of seed mucilage to clear eye irritation.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Traditional herbal remedy for women's complaints and digestion
  • Clary sage oil distilled for perfumery and aromatherapy
  • Tall lilac bracts attract bumblebees and butterflies

Related plants

More Salvia plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Clary?

Water about every 7 days during the growing season, and always let excess water drain away.

How much light does Clary need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Clary toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Moderate (Dogs Moderate · Cats Moderate) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Clary easy to grow?

Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.

When does Clary bloom?

It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.

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