Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish green leaves that like as good in a perennial border as they do in a vegetable garden. The leaves on all my garden herbs (mint, sage, oregano, thyme, lemon balm) get yellow-brown speckles from late spring, which by late summer almost entirely cover the leaves. So when, on the rare occurrence, the soft perfumed leaves wilt and even shrivel, it can be alarming to the home gardener. Susan, the black leaves on my B&B's happend after half the growing season. Not all sage varieties are culinary; the most popular kitchen sage is called Salvia officinalis. Like rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), also from the Labiatae family, sage prefers a light fertilizer and for the soil pH to be between 6.0 and 7.0. As a soil-borne fungus, it's present at all times, even deep winter. TooManyWeeds87 Seedling. If left untreated, black spot spreads rapidly and weakens plants severely. As the fungus develops, those black spots on leaves are ringed with yellow. Sage grows well in zones 5-9. It's so strange. Sage thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil and full sun or light shade. All of this is from information I found online and not my experience. Treating Black Leaf Spot Fungus. fish_4_all, Mar 12, 2010 #2. Hello, I am not sure if this is the right place to post about this because although it's an herb its in a terrarium. It forms a shrub up to 2 feet high with gray-green leaves and attractive lilac flowers. It is a fungal disease. Up until that time they grew well and flowered. If the leaves are losing some color or turning yellow they need more light. The oval leaves turn vaguely purple in full sun, and the compact growth habit makes it perfect for containers or small areas. Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:20 am. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, blue, white, and pink. I am in Houston and have about 7 Texas Sage bushes in front of my house. They are all turning brown from the bottom inside the bushes. I made two terrariums and the one that the leaves are turning black in gets no air (it has a solid lid). Black spot leaf disease shows itself first with black spots appearing on the leaf, then with rings of yellow as the spots grow, until the leaf turns entirely yellow and then falls off. To measure the soil’s pH, you can buy a pH reader from your local garden store. Sage is a perennial garden herb popular to many as an easy plant to grow. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a short-lived perennial herb grown for its aromatic leaves. I haven't done anything different with them. If your sage is an adult shrub, it can withstand -30 degrees winter temperatures, if properly covered. How to Grow Sage Zones. What might this disease (or diseases - the mint looks like rust but I've not heard of rust affecting thyme) be, and how can I treat it? Sage leaves are curling under. Sage plant turning black. In the early stages, it looks like dusty white spots on the upper surface of the leaves. Common green sage is hardier than other varieties, so try growing it before any others if you don’t have an ideal climate. Getting rid of black leaf spot must be a two-pronged attack. Hello Everyone! I planted them two years ago and they have been doing great until just recently. Sun and Soil Requirements As it develops, entire leaves will be coated with the fungus and it leads to leaf drop and deformed new growth. There are several causes for this, one simply being old age. I hope it helps. Soon the entire leaf turns yellow and falls. It starts with tiny black spots on leaves, no bigger than a pinhead. As for nurseries not harding off their plants, they should have a sign posted at the register that plants should be protected for a few days before … Powdery mildew on garden sage appears as the temperatures increase in late spring. Increase in late spring and the compact growth habit makes it perfect for containers or small.! 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