Key Features
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Traditional Chinese medicinal herb known as Dan-shen or Red Sage.
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Produces attractive purple to violet-blue flowers during its blooming season.
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Features aromatic green foliage and a perennial growth habit.
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Suitable for herb gardens, cottage gardens, and ornamental planting.
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Valued for its long history in traditional Chinese herbal practices.
Growing Benefits
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Garden Beauty: Adds colorful flowers and attractive foliage to herb gardens.
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Herbal Interest: Introduces a historically important plant to home gardens.
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Perennial Growth: Returns seasonally in suitable climates with proper care.
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Pollinator Appeal: Its flowers can attract bees and other pollinating insects.
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Garden Variety: Provides an interesting addition to traditional and botanical collections.
Seed Specifications
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Common Name: Dan-shen, Chinese Sage, Red Sage, Chinese Salvia
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Botanical Name: Salvia miltiorrhiza
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Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial herb
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Colors: Green foliage with purple to violet-blue flowers
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Height: Approximately 30–80 cm at maturity
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Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
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Soil: Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained sandy loam
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Water: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist without waterlogging
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Germination Time: Approximately 14–30 days under suitable conditions
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Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly
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Spacing: Approximately 30–45 cm between established plants
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Growing Zones: Best suited to temperate climates; local hardiness varies
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Flowering/Maturity: Blooms from late spring through summer; perennial plants establish over time
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Uses: Ornamental herb gardens, botanical collections, and traditional herbal plant cultivation
Growing Tips
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Choose a sunny location with good drainage and suitable airflow.
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Keep seed-starting soil moist but never excessively wet.
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Transplant seedlings carefully after they develop several true leaves.
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Remove faded flower stems to encourage a tidy, healthy plant.
Seed Storage
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Store seeds in a cool, dry, and dark location.
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Keep them in an airtight container or sealed seed packet.
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Protect seeds from moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat.
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Label the container with the seed name and storage date.
Unique Facts About Dan-shen Seeds
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Dan-shen is native to parts of China and belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.
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Its botanical name is Salvia miltiorrhiza, distinguishing it from common culinary sage.
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The plant develops a distinctive thickened red root, which gives it the name Red Sage.
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Its purple-blue flowers and attractive foliage make it interesting for ornamental herb gardens.


