PLANTprofile

Russian Sage

By Kathy Jentz

This woody perennial or “sub shrub” is not actually Russian. (It is native to the grassland areas of western China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.) It is a terrific filler plant for the garden border with its silvery-green foliage and bright violet-blue flower spikes that bloom from mid-summer into fall. This sage is a close relative to Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and when you brush by it, you’ll notice its strong herbal odor. Russian Sage (Salvia yangii, previously known as Perovskia atriplicifolia) requires at least six hours of sun. It prefers a lean, rocky soil, but regular garden soil is fine. It doesn’t like heavy clay soil, however. It does best in garden situations with great drainage, such as along a retaining wall or curb. Russian Sage is drought-tolerant, deer-proof, and seldom troubled by disease or pests. Pollinators love it. Bees and hummingbirds are especially attracted to the small, tubular flowers that blossom in rows along its stems. Don’t fertilize it—doing so will encourage leggy growth and this sage has a tendency to spread wide and flop a bit. Plant it among other tall perennials for support and for an attractive contrast. Try it with ornamental grasses, tall sedums, and mums. It is best planted in the spring, rather than in the fall. Leave it up in winter because the silhouettes of the white-ish stems are quite attractive, then cut the whole plant down to the ground in March. Some commonly available cultivars to try include ‘Blue Spire’, ‘Filigran’, ‘Longin’, and a dwarf cultivar called ‘Little Spire’. o

Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.