After studying about this sage that isn’t a sage, I fell in love with Russian sage. Its delicate allure makes it a delight to take care of, and it blooms from mid-summer by means of fall.
Trying extra like lavender or catmint and smelling barely like widespread sage when the dried leaves are crushed, Russian sage was reclassified as a member of the Salvia household in 2017, now correctly known as Salvia yangii (Perovskia atriplicifolia). Regardless that the classification has been up to date, the botanical names of every selection mentioned on this article shall be known as their authentic title on account of their broad use within the gardening world.
If you wish to add magnificence to your backyard with out a lot fuss subsequent season, listed below are 11 Russian sage varieties to take a look at.
Full-Sized Varieties
A full-sized plant can develop 4 to 5 toes tall and two to 4 toes broad, with some needing assist to maintain from flopping over.
‘Blue Spire’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Spire’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top As much as 4 toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
Often known as one of many loveliest, most vigorous, and multi-stemmed varieties, ‘Blue Spire’ options darkish blue flowers that bloom for months. Stems are upright, and leaves are deeply lobed. It’s a hybrid of two species, beloved for its carefree nature and ethereal look. ‘Blue Spire’ has been given the Award of Backyard Advantage of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Add this tall cultivar alongside a border, alongside creeping phlox, or with different pollinator-loved vegetation. When pruning ‘Blue Spire’ within the late winter or early spring, achieve this nearly to the bottom. Propagate by means of softwood cuttings in late spring.
Bear in mind to plant Russian sage someplace that receives full solar for at the least 6 hours a day, or she’ll certainly flop and develop into leggy. As soon as it has develop into leggy or flops over, these stems won’t ever develop into sturdy. It might appear counterintuitive to chop it again, however belief me, laborious pruning and a sunny, well-draining space will guarantee a robust, wholesome plant!
‘Filigran’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Filigran’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 4+ toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
An 8-year comparative trial executed by the Chicago Botanic Backyard referred to ‘Filigran’ as a bigger, less-refined model of ‘Little Lace™’. The violet colour appears mild on account of its spread-out, free nature.
An older cultivar, ‘Filigran,’ has a looser, floppy rising behavior and tends to be fairly tall, generally rising over 4 toes tall when totally mature. Pairing it with a sturdy shrub or perennial will assist naturally assist it.
Its flowers are a steely blue, making a shocking centerpiece of a basis backyard. Place different, shorter vegetation round “Filigran’ for an fascinating garden piece that’s positive to have individuals speaking. Reduce it again or enable it to die again to the crown every winter. Simply mark it with mulch or a tag so the crown isn’t broken within the spring.
“Denim n Lace’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Denim n Lace’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 2-3 toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
Named appropriately for its denim-like colour, this blue-violet cultivar will certainly please the eyes when in full bloom. Its flowers are carefully spaced, so the colour is full and vibrant.
You probably have a small out of doors gardening house or have a nook that you must fill, ‘Denim n Lace’ might match the invoice. It simply tucks away in a nook, alongside a border, or in containers. Simply make certain it will get full solar for peak efficiency.
Professional tip: When planted close to sure species, fennel can have an allelopathic impact on different vegetation, together with Russian sage. Russian sage is extraordinarily appropriate with most different vegetation, however maintain fennel at a sage, er, protected distance.
‘Blue Metal’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Haze’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 3 toes |
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hardiness zones 5-11 |
‘Blue Metal’ has a pleasant, upright development behavior with mild lavender blooms. The erect and silvery stems are full of 5-6” panicles stuffed with tiny flowers, giving a shimmering impact when blown round within the wind.
Present well-draining soil and prime gown with a bit of well-aged compost within the spring for fertility. It doesn’t demand a lot by way of amendments and is drought-resistant.
Pull up any suckers or ‘minis’ within the spring to maintain this plant from spreading. Pot and reward them to a buddy, or develop your Russian sage plot.
Compact Varieties
Compact varieties might develop extra densely and uniformly, rising simply 18-36 inches tall and 2-3 toes broad.
‘Peek-A-Blue®’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Peek-A-Blue®’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 2 toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
Acknowledged for its uniformity and hardiness, choose ‘Peek-A-Blue®’ in case your backyard wants a proper pop of colour. It was particularly bred to be stout and compact, good for growers with small gardening areas.
It grows quick and requires little or no consideration, so it’s nice for rookies and grasp gardeners alike. Pair it with decorative grasses for a whimsical backyard impact or in containers close to your porch.
Native to Central Asia, Russian sage does properly in rocky, sloped, and soils with lower than nice fertility. The primary factor to recollect is it wants well-draining soil as it is going to underperform or die in soggy, moist circumstances.
‘Lacey Blue’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Lacey Blue’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 12-18 inches |
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hardiness zones 4-10 |
This dwarf selection is ideal as a stand-alone assertion piece or planted in mass. It additionally does properly in containers; its old-timey grayish-green foliage lends itself properly to a cottage backyard. Bred to be sturdy with out flopping over, it’s additionally extraordinarily deer-resistant.
‘Lacey Blue’ ought to be trimmed all the way down to just some inches within the spring. This can encourage heavy, dense summer season development with blooms lasting till the autumn.
Bear in mind to separate your plant each 3-5 years to maintain its efficiency tip-top. Additionally, don’t overlook to closely prune in late winter or spring so your Russian sage stays wholesome for what might be a 20+ yr life!
‘Blue Jean Child’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Jean Child’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 2-3 toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
A showy selection, ‘Blue Jean Child’ options darkish violet flowers and is early to bloom. With a variety of hardiness, it’s an ideal possibility for growers throughout the globe. Simply be sure you maintain the soil well-draining to maintain her glad.
These vegetation are constantly productive, formed, and sized every season, and this selection holds onto its coloured calyx properly into fall. Get pleasure from it lengthy after its bloom time has handed by, generally into October.
If you happen to’re going for backyard drama, strive pairing ‘Blue Jean Child’ with scarlet bee balm, coneflower, or bold-colored asters.
‘Little Spire’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 18-24 inches |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Little Spire’ is beautiful with gray-green foliage and nearly glittery stems. Their foliage is barely fragrant, making it a beautiful choice to plant close to an outside seating space.
Area different vegetation about two toes away as she spreads out. To maintain ‘Little Spire’ aesthetically pleasing, prune it again to a few foot tall every spring.
Attempt planting this compact cultivar alongside a strolling path or including it to a rock backyard the place passersby can get pleasure from its minty aroma.
‘Rocketman’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Rocketman’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 2.5-3 toes |
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hardiness zones 5-9 |
Like ‘Little Spire,’ ‘Rocketman’’s grayish foliage is fragrant and might assist repel mosquitoes. Add a singular flare to a fireplace pit space by planting it close by and reap the bug-repelling advantages.
When transplanting, bury the rootball simply to the plant’s crown so it could breathe when buried with soil. Water it properly upon transplant and till it turns into established. After the primary yr, not a lot irrigation is required.
Combine in pinks and yellows to create tropical vibes by rising ‘Rocketman’ alongside phlox or rudbeckia for a pleasant distinction.
‘Little Lace™’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Lace™’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 18-24 inches |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Little Lace’ has well-spaced-out flowers, giving it a light-weight and ethereal impact. Its delicate options and light-weight lavender shade pair properly with shiny pink or salmon zinnias, rudbeckia, and purple and magenta Dianthus. This compact cultivar will be grown in containers and does properly in mass plantings.
Russian sage presents easy-to-access meals for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds however isn’t as palatable as another backyard goodies to deer, so that you’re protected there.
Dry gardening or rising in a sizzling, dry local weather? Russian sage is ideal for you because it thrives in drought circumstances and desires little in the case of fertilizer or watering. Nevertheless, it doesn’t love humid environments.
‘Sage Recommendation’
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botanical title Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Sage Recommendation’ |
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solar necessities Full solar |
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top 2.5-3 toes |
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hardiness zones 4-9 |
Blooming in mid-summer and intensely cold-hardy, ‘Sage Recommendation’ is a favourite amongst landscapers. Its purple shade is darker than most, making an announcement alongside borders, in mass plantings, or in a cottage backyard.
This selection is understood for its sturdiness, so that you gained’t want to fret about supporting it. It’s just like ‘Denim n Lace’ in look with darker calyxes and broader leaves.
‘Sage Recommendation’ will be lower, dried, or displayed as a aromatic, wild-looking bouquet. Benefit from the plant by means of the autumn, reducing it again within the spring to above the bottom bud current.
Key Takeaways
- For a lacy impact, select ‘Denim ’n Lace,’ PEEK-A-BLUE®,’ or ‘Filigran’ for his or her dissected foliage.
- Compact varieties will be grown in containers, mass plantings, basis gardens, borders, cottage gardens, or perennial patches.
- Russian sage, by nature, is deer-resistant and principally disease-resistant.
- Pollinators love Russian sage as a result of great amount and form of the flowers.
- Properly-draining soil is vital to its survival.
- It’s low-maintenance, thrives in sizzling, dry climates, and ought to be pruned yearly.
Closing Ideas
Russian sage is liked for its carefree nature, requiring little consideration, thrives in sizzling, dry climates, and even performs properly in poor soil. Plant these Russian sage varieties in a sunny place, then sit again and delight of their allure.