Red Sage (Dan Shen)

Red Sage (Dan Shen, Salvia miltiorrhiza)

Red Sage, also known as Dan Shen in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a hardy perennial herb prized for its medicinal roots. With striking blue to purple flowers, this sage attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, adding ecological value to your garden. Its roots are widely used in Chinese herbal medicine to support cardiovascular health and improve circulation. Red Sage is ideal for medicinal herb gardens, pollinator habitats, and naturalized landscapes.

Key Characteristics:

• Nectar Source for Pollinators
  Red Sage’s vibrant blooms attract pollinators, including honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, such as the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui). Its long-lasting flowers provide valuable nectar, helping sustain these species throughout the growing season. It also is an early season bloomer, providing critical late spring nectar.

• Medicinal Uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
  Known as Dan Shen, the dried roots of Red Sage are a key herb in TCM, traditionally used to promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and treat heart-related conditions. It is often used in teas, tinctures, or extracts for cardiovascular support and improving liver function.

• Adaptable to a Variety of Garden Settings
  Red Sage thrives in well-drained soils and sunny to partially shaded conditions, making it a versatile addition to medicinal herb gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly landscapes. Its drought tolerance also makes it well-suited for low-water gardens.

• Ecological Support for Beneficial Insects
  In addition to supporting pollinators, Red Sage’s flowers attract predatory insects like hoverflies, which help control pest populations naturally. This makes it an excellent companion plant in eco-friendly and organic gardening systems.

• Eye-Catching Addition to Naturalized Gardens
  With its tall, upright stems and super showy flowers, Red Sage brings both aesthetic beauty and ecological function to ornamental borders, meadows, and herb gardens. It can be paired with other native or medicinal plants to create a diverse, wildlife-friendly garden.

Product Details:

• Native Range: China
• Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained, medium moisture
• Mature Height: 1-3 feet
• Bloom Time: Summer (June to August)
• Bloom Color: Blue to purple
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

Red Sage is a beautiful and functional addition to medicinal gardens, providing pollinator support and health benefits through its roots. Grow this versatile plant for its ecological and medicinal value.