10 Things You Need to Know about Russian Sage (Perovskia)

I like big boastful plant . A nimble perusing ofmy clause portfolio on this websitewill show that whenever I drop a line a single - plant article , it be given to be centered around plants that take center leg .

hypnotic hydrangea , amatory roses , cotton plant candy peonies . But I want to tack it up a number and talk about an underrated accent plant for a alteration : Russian sage .

I bet you ’ve probably come across this perennial in gardens or peak arrangements without even noticing it . Unless you really know what it looks like , you couldeasily disconcert it with sage or lavender . The sweetheart of the Russian salvia is that it enhances and complements all the other perennial it pair with without ever taking over .

Russian sage adorning a city park flower bed.

Here are the most important things I think you should know about planting and growing Russian sage .

1. Russian sage is not a real sage.

Russian sage(Perovskia atriplicifolia , more lately known asSalvia yangii)is not real sage ( Salvia officinalis ) . I want to make this crucial distinction early on because the leaves of the Russian salvia are generally not comestible , even though they smell very fragrant .

It just so happens that it ’s not aboriginal to Russia either . This sturdy perennial is aboriginal to Central and South Asia , but it was mention by a Russian phytologist in honor of a Russian body politic official . So allow ’s agree that calling it perovskia will pass some of this confusion .

2. You can buy Russian sage as bare roots or as a starter plant.

I ’m proud to say that I successfully pop genuine salvia from seed . But I would not endeavour to do this with Russian salvia . That ’s because I might want to expect up to four calendar month ( months ! ) for sprouting , according to thishorticultural guidefrom the University of Wisconsin at Madison .

When I decided to bring a few perovskia plants into my garden , my lookup for larger , more fledged plants came up with some middling pricey results . That is , when I induce any issue at all . Because seemingly even the large garden heart in my area ( part of a chain ) does n’t carry Russian sage . So I decided to order two pocket-sized starter plant online .

I think part of the problem of sourcing it is the fact that I was examine to get some in the spring . Had I been patient enough to expect for fall planting , I would have been able-bodied to buy and plant perovskia as a mere root word plant .

I wrote an entire clause onthe benefit of planting bare rootage starter . In a nutshell , it ’s an environmentally friendly and low-cost option , in improver to being plant - friendly . Planting this elbow room set aside plants enough time to get their roots established before they begin invest out new growth in spring .

3. Russian sage is suitable for a wide range of garden conditions.

Now we ’re getting to the adept part and to all the benefits of planting Russian sage in your garden . The center name of this recurrent might as well be ‘ tolerant ’ since it ’s both drought tolerant and critter liberal . But there ’s one trick to keep in thinker . Its allowance will sound off in only if you give it the attention it needs to get build .

This long bloomer will show off from July until October if you plant it in full sun . Even before it start up blooming , the silvery - fleeceable pattern of the foliage adds plenty of pursuit to any garden . And I do mean any garden because Russian salvia is suitable for garden in USDA zone 3 to 9 .

Russian sage prefers a well - draining spot in your garden and it does n’t care ingest squashy feet . If you ’re planting a starter plant , like I am , it ’s really of import that you water it on a regular basis until it gets established . It will first put its energy into growing its recondite - feeding taproot , so do n’t be let down if it takes a couple of calendar month to get comfortable in your garden . Once it does , you ’ll be in for a material goody .

Russian sage adorning a city park flower bed.

Perovskia can handle alkaline condition , common salt - rich soil and drought , which make believe it a suitable industrial plant for a wide range of gardening micro - climates , from coastal to defect .

4. Russian sage belongs in pollinator gardens.

commemorate those long - endure blooms . Yeah , they ’re a feast for bee , butterfly and hummingbird . The individual blossoms on each flower spike are quite petite , but it ’s their sheer the great unwashed and their strong fragrance that ’s the main attraction to insects .

5. Russian sage is critter-resistant.

Since we ’re talking about attracting wildlife , here ’s the good news . Russian sage is not a favorite with deer , squirrel , rabbits or other such hungry creatures . The strong sweetness and flavor of the perovskia leaf means that it wo n’t be bothered much by the neighborhood critters .

If you embed it in masses , you could even habituate it to beat back unwanted snackers away from your more appetizing plants .

6. You can propagate Russian sage from softwood cuttings.

I ’ve already refer that startle perovskia from seed could flex into an physical exercise in patience and frustration . In add-on to this , due to its woody stanch – interchangeable to those of lavender – Russian salvia is not a dear nominee for root division .

But you wo n’t have to keep rebuying it either . Once you have Russian salvia growing in your garden , you may propagate it by taking deal cut in late spring and early summer .

I write an well-off guide onhow to take softwood cut , include all the aftercare you necessitate to do to have them all root successfully .

Even though the flowers and the foliage look similar, Russian sage is not a real sage.

7. Russian sage is perfect in both living and cut arrangements.

An accent plant is a plant that helps convey out the best in all its neighbour . Kind of like a Mister Rogers of works , if you will . That ’s Russian sage for you . you’re able to imbed it in the back of the border to move as a canvas for all the perennial that you ’ll “ paint ” with . If you go for littler varieties ( more on that afterwards ) , you could practice it in the front of the border or as a filler between large plants .

you may also imbed perovskia in works island , for example to visually break up up a large lawn .

Due to its muted shade of blue , Russian sage contrasts well with brighter colored plant such as Black - eyed Susan , echinacea or rose . It can also jointall gladioliandJapanese anemonein the back of the delimitation .

One of my Russian sage starter plants was looking a bit sad. But it bounced back a week after I transplanted it.

Perovskia will have the same fullness effect in bouquets and tabletop arrangements . It ’s a long - endure cut flower , but once it ’s past its prime , you’re able to turn it into a beautiful dry flower .

8. You don’t need to fertilize Russian sage.

As more proof of how grim - sustentation this perennial is , here ’s another piece of good news . Russian salvia does n’t require any plant food . In fact , overfertilization can damage the rootage system just as bad as overwatering will .

However , a stratum of fresh compost every outflow will help keep the flora healthy for years . As will a bed of mulch in the gloaming .

If you ’re growing smaller cultivars of Russian sage in container , the best thing you’re able to do for them is deepen their potting soil every twelvemonth . If that ’s too much hassle , remove the top layer of land and bring fresh compost might be enough to help your perovskia bloom profusely .

In order to reach its full blooming potential, Russian sage needs full sun.

And speak of bloom , if your Russian sage does n’t seem as fain to reach its full florescence potential , fertilizer is not the solvent . fortune are that this perennial is n’t getting enough sun . expect until tardy fall , then transplant your Russian sage to a sunnier localization . you could do that up to a calendar month before your first frost for the season . Whatever you do , avoid transplanting your perovskia in the middle of the summertime .

9. Russian sage is one of those perennials that you only prune in spring.

Russian salvia is a deciduous perennial . This mean it will misplace most of its silvery green foliage as temperatures overlook in the descent . But it will still retain its appeal due to the silver stems and elegant seedheads . This makes it the staring perennial to adorn your wintertime garden . Leaving the dry stem on the plant also has the extra advantage of act as insulation and mulch for the crownwork of the plant .

Once leaping roll around , it ’s time to make room for fresh development . That ’s when you prune the juiceless affair all the way down to about four inches off the ground . The harder your prune , the more copiously it will bloom . But if you see new bud descend up , protect them by trimming the all in textile correctly above them .

10. There’s a Russian sage cultivar for every type of garden.

Unlike other colorful perennials , perovskia cultivar will only come in shades of grim or lavender . But there are quite a few varieties to prefer from . And if you ’re not a big fan of improbable plants , rest assured there are diminished Russian salvia cultivars useable .

‘ gloomy Spire’is an award - winning ( Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit ) democratic cultivar that can strive up to five feet tall ( about 1.5 meters ) in full sun .

‘ Little Spire’is the much shorter version , touch only 24 inch ( 60 cm ) improbable .

Pollinators love perovskia.

‘ Denim ’ n Lace’tops up at 32 inches ( 81 curium ) tall with a more compact smell due to the spatial arrangement of the blooms .

‘ Peek - a - Blue’is an exceptionally retentive - bloomer with a compact produce use . It can grow to around 23 - 29 inches ( 60 - 75 cm )

‘ blue-blooded Steel’has pale blue flowers and a brumous , wild-eyed look .

Plant Russian sage next to vulnerable plants that critters like to snack on.

‘ Rocketman’is a mid - sized Russian sage cultivar with strong , upright stanch and purple flower .

‘ Bluesette’is a new cultivar that remain smaller ( about 24 inch marvellous ) and efflorescence in the beginning than your typical Russian salvia . Its woody stem means that it will not fall through , making it suitable for container .

Now that you do it all about Russian sage and how easy it is to acquire , how would you comprise it in your garden ?