Hello,

I would very much like to have clary sage - salvia sclarea - in my garden next year but I do not quite understand how to proceed about it. It is a biennial, I read.

Does it mean I can buy a small plant NOW, a bunch of leaves only to plant NOW for flowers next summer? Would it overwinter with winter temperatures in my area dropping to between -10C and -25C in January-February? An already growing plant would be a preferred solution because I have very little time for my garden.

Or should I rather buy such a young plant in the spring, and if so, which month? Do I have to wait until May?

And, if I do not find plants (they are rather rare) and have to use seeds - which month would be good for planting the seeds outside (no greenhouse - again, I have no time for that)? In my area, zone 5-6, the last frost date is May 15th.

Please excuse the trivial questions but I have never grown anything from seed in my life, nor dealt with annuals or biennials.

Thanks a lot for your input!