Salvia miltiorrhiza

DAN SHEN

RED ROOT SAGE

Salvia miltiorrhiza
DAN SHEN

RED ROOT SAGE

Salvia miltiorrhiza is commonly known as Dan Shen in China, where it has been widely used for probably over 2,000 years in herbal medicine. It is considered essential in treating cardiovascular disease and problems with blood circulation, amongst other ailments.

Ancient Chinese medicinal herb

Or it is also commonly known as Red Root Sage, as it is the bright red coloured rhizomes that are dried and used in herbal medicine.
Salvia miltiorrhiza still has modern day followers for medicinal purposes, with a very long and continuous history as a herbal treatment.

Kitchen herb for meat dishes

The leaves of Salvia miltiorrhiza have also been used for centuries as a culinary herb for cooking with meat.
The leaves have quite a bitter flavour, but when used sparingly they really enhance the flavours in meat dishes.
It is certainly a popular culinary herb in the cuisines of China and Japan, where it grows widely amongst woodlands.

Attractive garden flowers with an ancient history

However Salvia miltiorrhiza also makes a pretty and decorative garden plant, even if you never use it as a herb.
With large summer flowers, shading sky blue to deep lavender-purple and white throats, long blooming over the warm months.
While the foliage has a crinkly texture, often highlighted with maroon shading in the leaves.
So it is very pretty in both flower and foliage, either clipped or let to grow informally.

Enjoys under trees and shrubs

This is a very handy plant for Salvia lovers with gardens that do not receive sun all day, as Salvia miltiorrhiza usually appreciates a partly shaded position.

Bees love it, rabbits hate it

Your bees and other pollinator friends will also thank you for growing it. Because they love the nectar rich flowers.
While rabbits and deer do not find the aromatic leaves fun at all, with the rich volatile oils making them distasteful.

Easily grown in a wide range of climates

Plant Salvia miltiorrhiza in Sun to Part Shade, and afternoon shade is certainly appreciated in hot summer climates.
However this hardy Salvia will grow in both cooler climates and more tropical areas.
Salvia miltiorrhiza is frost hardy and will be dormant over winter in severe frost areas, remaining ready to jump away in the spring. Or it will remain evergreen in areas with very mild frosts or sub-tropical and tropical areas.

Happy in a wide range of soils

Salvia miltiorrhiza will happily grow in clay, loam and any soil with average fertility.
It prefers not to be overfed, though it does appreciate consistent soil moisture.
It will also thrive in quite heavy, boggy conditions.

Excellent & low maintenance in a pot

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a hardy shrubby perennial.
And easy low maintenance.
The only work is an annual cut back after flowering, and this will keep it neat, compact and rounded.
However you can also leave it to grow naturally into an informal small shrubby plant.
When it will spread gently by suckers. But it is easy to control and restrain with a spade, or contain it completely in a pot.
Rounded shrubby perennial of approx. 60cm. High x 40cm. Wide.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suits beginners & gardening with kids

Sow at any time of year in a punnet indoors.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently pat the seed to the surface of the mix, to ensure good contact.
Now barely cover the seed with sieved mix / grit/ washed sand.
Because these seeds need light for germination.

Then thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface from below.

Now place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in direct sunlight).
You can use a heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential.
A warm window sill is good.

Temperatures of 20-25C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 7-21 days.
But do not discard the punnet too quickly – because it is natural for this plant to stagger seed germination as a safety precaution.

Seed Count: 30 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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