Teucrium scorodonia - Wood Sage

Family:	Labiatae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Width:	0.5
Synonyms:
Range:	W. Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Germany.

Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m and a width of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Wood Sage will flower in January to March. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, self

Soil Information

Wood Sage will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Wood Sage prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Wood Sage can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Dry, not strongly calcareous, soils in woodlands, grassland, heaths and dunes[4, 17]. Also found on lime-free moorland soils[200].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good soil and almost any situation[1, 4]. Once established, this is a drought resistant plant, succeeding in dry shade[190].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
The plant resembles hops in taste and flavour[4]. An infusion of the leaves and flowers is used as a hop substitute for flavouring beer in some areas[2, 4, 183]. It is said to clear the beer more quickly than hops, but imparts too much colour to the brew[4].

• Condiment - the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The herb is alterative, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic and vulnerary[4, 61, 165]. It is harvested in July and can be dried for later use[4]. The herb is often used in domestic herbal practice in the treatment of skin afflictions, diseases of the blood, fevers, colds etc[4]. It is an appetizer of the first order and is equal to gentian root as a tonic[4].

• Alterative - Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
• Appetizer - Improves the appetite
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Skin - Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they are large enough. Otherwise, grow them on in a cold frame for the winter and plant them out in the following spring. Division in early spring[1]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[113].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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