Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Description:

A standout variety with bright green, fragrant foliage; contrasting bright red blooms add dazzle to this beautiful addition to borders or containers; dense and bushy; sweet and fruity aroma lend itself to various culinary dishes

Edible Qualities

Honeydew Melon Sage is an annual herb that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. The fragrant pointy green leaves are usually harvested from early to late summer. The leaves have a pleasant taste and a sweet fragrance.

The leaves are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Baking
• Preserves
• Sauces
• Tea

Planting & Growing

Honeydew Melon Sage will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant is typically grown in a designated herb garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Honeydew Melon Sage is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.