Icterina

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, variegated foliage is the first delight of Icterina Sage—cool, herbal lift with a vivid, creamy-gold and green pattern that glows in the garden.

Leaves are softly textured with a gentle, velvety feel, forming an upright, well-branched clump that holds its beauty through the season. Ideal for fresh sprigs, dried bundles, and aromatic infusions, Icterina brings a refined sage character to herb beds, borders, and containers alike.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

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Icterina Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Sep 28th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Sep 22nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Sep 16th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 11th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Sep 7th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 4th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Aug 29th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Aug 24th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Aug 14th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Aug 5th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Jul 27th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	Jun 15th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Icterina sage gives you the classic cool, slightly peppery sage bite with a softer, more elegant leaf feel, so it behaves beautifully when you don’t overcook it—bloom it in butter and let it perfume the fat. Use it like an aromatic seasoning: quick heat, short contact, then get it into creamy dairy or pork where its restrained bitterness feels tailored, not harsh.

Best Uses

briefly bruise-and-bloom sage in hot fat for gnocchi, beans, or roast potatoes
chop fine for compound butter and spread it on warm bread
stir into custardy fillings or cheese-based bakes (holding its herbaceous bite)
dry and use in aromatic infusions and broths for a clean, medicinal lift

Flavor Profile

cool, resinous sage character creamy herbal sweetness on the mid-palate soft, velvety leaf texture with a gentle bitterness

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter lemon zest brown mushrooms aged parmesan pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue commonly affects Salvia officinalis (garden sage), and how can I stop it?

Garden sage commonly suffers from root/crown rot and leaf spotting when soil stays wet and airflow is poor. Water only at the base, let the top 1–2 in (2–5 cm) of soil dry between waterings, and remove any blackened/rotting leaves to reduce spread. If you see wilting with dark, mushy stems near the soil line, discard badly affected plants and avoid replanting sage in the same spot for a season.

How often should I water Salvia officinalis during its main growing phase?

During active growth, keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy—aim for deep watering about once every 7–10 days, depending on heat and your soil drainage. Let the top layer dry out before watering again, because sage (Salvia officinalis) is drought-tolerant once established but is prone to rot in consistently wet soil.

How do I tell when Salvia officinalis is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach about 8–10 in (20–25 cm) tall and the leaves are fully sized and aromatic—typically around 60–70 days after sowing. Snip individual stems just above a leaf pair to encourage branching, and harvest in the morning after dew dries for the best leaf flavor.