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Meadow clary
(Salvia pratensis )
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Meadow clary © Andrew Gagg/Plantlife
This handsome plant has striking blue flowers in a spike on the stem and pleasantly aromatic leaves when crushed.
You can adopt meadow clary as part of the Plantlife ‘Adopt-a-flower’ scheme.
Distribution
Meadow Clary declined before 1950, mainly due to loss of grazing and the resulting smothering by coarser plants, and is still declining, now only found as a native population at 21 locations, mainly in Oxfordshire, the North and South Downs and the Chilterns. Its presence in other areas is probably owing to its introduction through now-popular ‘wild flower seed’ mixes.
Habitat
Chalk or limestone soils, usually in sunny, open grassland but also on south-facing hedge-banks and woodland margins.
Status
It is classified as Near Threatened and is specially protected under a 1992 amendment to Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to pick, uproot or damage any plants listed on Schedule 8.
Key threats
It is principally threatened by habitat change, often caused by the ploughing, fertilising and re-seeding of slopes for ‘improved’ grassland, as well as the continual loss of grazing.
- Click here to download a dossier on this species.
- Click here to download a briefing sheet on this species.
Did you know...
The Latin name Salvia is related to Salus (health). The seeds of Meadow Clary were used in the past as a paste to remove particles from eyes and to reduce inflammation or redness. The name 'clary' is derived from 'clear-eye'. It was also used as a gargle for sore throats, and to clean teeth (Arkive). It has been used as a flavouring for beers and wines.
Grow Wild info
Preferred site: Sunny
Position in garden: An attractive perennial for growing in herbaceous or mixed borders, or in thin grass
How to plant and when: Plant young, pot-grown plants into well dug ground in spring or autumn. Poor soils will benefit from the addition of garden compost. Water plants well during establishment.
Propagation: Best propagated by carefully dividing congested clumps in spring. The plant can also be grown from seed, sown in a standard seed compost in autumn or spring - the pot should stand in a cold frame until germination occurs.