Pineapple sage is a quick-growing, prolific, and beautiful plant that has many uses. From attracting pollinators to garnishing salads to using in herbal teas, this easy plant is one that you'll want to add to your garden year after year. I hope this quick guide for growing pineapple sage will help get you started on many seasons of enjoying the wonderful benefits this herb has to offer!

5 Reasons You Should Try Growing Pineapple Sage

1. Prolific Harvest

Pineapple sage is fairly fast growing and can shoot up to become 3-4' high shrubs in just one season. Typically, pineapple sage plants should be planted in the spring and will start blooming in the late summer or fall. In the meantime, however, you can start picking and using the leaves as soon as the plant is established, which is usually around 6-8 weeks.

2. Long Bloom Time

Pineapple sage generally blooms from summer until late fall, depending on your grow zone. While many other types of salvia plants bloom earlier in the spring and summer, pineapple sage will grace your garden (and kitchen) for an extended season.

3. Multiple Uses from Both Leaves and Flowers

There are so many wonderful uses for these fragrant plants! Here are a few:

Leaves: Pineapple sage leaves have a fruity flavor and are wonderful to use in herbal teas and summer beverages, chopped on green salads or fruit salads, in jams and jellies, and more.
Flowers: The edible flowers also have a fruity fragrance and can be used for beverages, as a colorful garnish on salads of all types, frozen in ice cubes, or in baked goods. Their bright red color also looks beautiful in a vase.

4. Loved by Pollinators

The tubular, scarlet-red flowers on pineapple sage are ideal nectar plants for hummingbirds and butterflies. Plus, they provide a good source of food in the later months when there are less flowers available.

5. Inexpensive and Popular in Greenhouses

These plants can be found at most greenhouses and garden centers easily, and they're fairly inexpensive. If your plants don't end up surviving the winter, no biggie.

How to Grow Pineapple Sage

Plant pineapple sage in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. You can grow your plants in the ground or in large pots (for pots, 12-18" wide is best). While planting in the ground offers more opportunity for prolific growth, containers give the benefit of being able to more easily move and protect your plants during cold weather. If you're starting from seed, you can start indoors in the early spring, about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.
When choosing a location, find a spot that gets full sun and has well-drained soil. Each shrub should be planted 2-3' apart.
Before planting, it's a good idea to amend your soil with some compost or other organic matter. If needed, you can also add some good-quality fertilizer throughout the season. I love Espoma Organic Garden Tone.
Give your plants plenty of water for the first few weeks while they're getting established. Once established, you can cut back on watering, focusing mainly on providing them with extra water during dry spells.
Once established, pruning the leaves and deadheading flowers can encourage more abundant growth.

Propagation Tips

Pineapple sage is super easy to propagate, too! Here's how.

From a mature plant, cut healthy stems that are at least 6" long.
Next, remove the lower leaves, otherwise they will rot in the water.
Place the cuttings in a glass of water.
Let them grow! Once the roots are a few inches long (this should take a couple of weeks), transplant your cuttings into well-draining soil outdoors or in a container.

FAQs

What Does Pineapple Sage Taste Like?

Pineapple sage is a member of the mint family and has a slightly minty, fruity flavor that's somewhat reminiscent of pineapple.

Is Pineapple Sage a Perennial?

Yes, pineapple sage is considered a perennial. However, in colder zones, it doesn't always survive the winter. To increase your plant's chances of survival, cut back the dead stems after the first frost. Then, mulch around your plant(s).

in colder zones (zone 7 and below), pineapple sage is sometimes treated as an annual. Still, it is possible for the plants to come back from milder winters if they're hardy, cut back to the ground, and mulched well.

How Do You Overwinter Pineapple Sage?

In warmer zones (including USDA zones 8-11), pineapple sage should survive the winter just fine outdoors. For colder zones, try one of these methods:

In the fall, cut back your stems so they're only a few inches from the ground, then mulch heavily around the plant.
For container plants, keep them indoors or in a protected location throughout the cold months.
Take cuttings to propagate more plants over the winter for in-ground planting next spring.