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Planting and Growing Russian Sage: A Pollinator-Friendly Garden Favorite

purple russian sage flowers
Image Credit:
agatchen/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Salvia yangii (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Life Cycle
Perennial
USDA Zones
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
3-6 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Alkaline
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Blue
Purple
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Cut Flower
Disease-Resistant
Fall Color
Fragrant
Long Blooming
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Cold Hardy
Drought-Tolerant
Heat-Tolerant
Salt Tolerant
Plant Type
Flowers
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
Almanac Guide to Herbs

Want to give your garden that silvery, sun-kissed glow with a touch of blue haze? Russian sage (formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia, now Salvia yangii) is the show-stealing perennial your flower beds have been waiting for! This aromatic, bee-magnet beauty thrives in heat, shrugs off drought, and keeps on blooming from early summer well into fall. Whether you’re designing a pollinator paradise or just want a low-maintenance splash of Mediterranean charm, here’s how to plant, grow, and care for Russian sage.

This lovely bluish-purple perennial was once in its own genus, Perovskia (named after a Russian general from the 1800s), but has more recently been put into the Salvia genus alongside other sages. Despite its common name, the plant is not native to Russia!

Russian sage grows 3 to 4 feet tall and produces purple-to-blue flowers from early summer to mid-fall. The textured gray-green leaves on silver-to-white stems are aromatic, producing a menthol-like scent when crushed. 

Use Russian sage in the middle or back of a border where the silvery foliage and soft-colored flowers add a Mediterranean feel to the landscape. The plant is also perfect as a filler plant or for separating flowers with stronger colors.  

Planting

When to Plant Russian Sage

  • Plant container-grown plants in early spring if possible, setting them at the same depth as they were in the pot.
  • Russian sage can be grown from seed, but germination may take 1 to 4 months.

Where to Plant Russian Sage

Plant Russian sage in full sun and in well-draining soil. Consistently wet soils should be avoided, as this drought-tolerant plant prefers to be kept on the drier side. Amend the planting site with compost or aged manure to improve drainage if necessary. 

How to Plant Russian Sage

  • Space plants about 18 inches apart.
  • Water regularly during the first growing season to establish the root system.
  • Mulch with organic compost to protect in winter. 

Propagating Russian Sage 

A mature plant will send out runners. Remove runners with strong roots from the parent plant using sharp scissors. Replant the runners in small pots with potting soil. 

  1. Take 3- to 4-inch-long softwood cuttings from a stem or branch.
  2. Dip the bottom in rooting hormone.
  3. Place the cutting in a pot with moist potting soil.
  4. Cover with clear plastic and place on a sunny windowsill.
  5. After a few weeks the cutting should be rooted. 

Growing

  • Established plants will tolerate drought very well. Plants will rot if the soil is too moist.
  • Young, unestablished plants may flop a bit but can be staked or planted near other plants that will support their tall flower stalks.
  • Don’t cut back stems in the fall. Cut them down to about 1 foot in the spring.
  • Mulch with organic compost when new growth begins in spring.
  • Divide plants every 3 to 4 years.
  • Prune new growth in early spring to about 10 inches above the soil to encourage thicker growth and more blooms.

Harvesting

It’s easy to dry Russian sage! Cut off the long spikes when in full bloom, tie with a string and hang upside down for about a week until stems leaves and flowers are dry. 

Russian sage spires add sweet fragrance and style to fresh flower arrangements. Cut Russian sage stems in the morning and place in water. 

Pests and Problems

  • Russian sage is naturally resistant to insect pests, although aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and leafhoppers can occasionally do damage.
  • The plant is resistant to rabbits and deer.
  • Stem or root rot can be a problem in wet soils.

Types

  • ‘Blue Spire’ grows 2–3 feet tall and produces deep purple flowers in mid to late summer. 

  • ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ has sky-blue flowers on strong 2- to 3-foot stems. 

  • ‘Filigran’ reaches 2–3 feet tall and has bright blue flowers. 

  • ‘Little Spire’ is only 2 feet tall with upright stems. Flower spikes are lavender-blue. 

  • ‘Longin’ has 3- to 4-foot-tall stiff stems with deep-blue flowers. 

Wit and Wisdom

  • The genus (Perovskia) was named c. 1840 after B. A. Perovski, a Turkestani governor of the Russian province of Orenburg. 

  • Russian sage is native to Central Asia and Tibet at elevations up to 8,000 feet. 

Flowers
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
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