Perovskia Species, Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Family: | Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Perovskia (per-OFF-skee-a) (Info) |
Species: | atriplicifolia (at-ry-pliss-ih-FOH-lee-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Perovskia pamirica |

Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Shiny/Glossy
Foliage Color:
Bronze
Blue-Green
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Suitable for growing in containers
Danger:
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Blue-Violet
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are good for cutting
Flowers are good for drying and preserving
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Union Grove, Alabama
Flagstaff, Arizona
Green Valley, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Bigelow, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Bakersfield, California
Bucks Lake, California
Clayton, California
East Quincy, California
Elk Grove, California
Fairfield, California
Greenhorn, California
Hanford, California
JACUMBA, California
Keddie, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore Station, California
Martinez, California
Menifee, California
Merced, California
Palm Springs, California
Paxton, California
Perris, California
Quincy, California
Spring Garden, California
Stockton, California
Brighton, Colorado
Denver, Colorado(2 reports)
Englewood, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Broad Brook, Connecticut
Monroe, Connecticut
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Wilton, Connecticut
Alford, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Crestview, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Keystone Heights, Florida
North Port, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Riverview, Florida
Summerfield, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Athens, Georgia
Cordele, Georgia
Boise, Idaho
Priest River, Idaho
Cherry Valley, Illinois
Downers Grove, Illinois
Lake In The Hills, Illinois
Mapleton, Illinois
Mount Prospect, Illinois
Niles, Illinois
North Aurora, Illinois
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Pekin, Illinois
Round Lake, Illinois
Connersville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Logansport, Indiana
Bloomfield, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Indianola, Iowa
Tipton, Iowa
Woden, Iowa
Barnard, Kansas
Olathe, Kansas
Perry, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Ewing, Kentucky
Hanson, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Salvisa, Kentucky
Bossier City, Louisiana
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lutcher, Louisiana
Vacherie, Louisiana
Auburn, Maine
Dover Foxcroft, Maine
Litchfield, Maine
Portland, Maine
Brookeville, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Easton, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Harwood, Maryland
Mount Airy, Maryland
Oxon Hill, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Valley Lee, Maryland
Belmont, Massachusetts
Billerica, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Dracut, Massachusetts
Franklin, Massachusetts
Northfield, Massachusetts
Saugus, Massachusetts
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Wayland, Massachusetts
Ann Arbor, Michigan(2 reports)
Commerce Township, Michigan
Ferndale, Michigan
Mason, Michigan
Pinconning, Michigan
Redford, Michigan
Traverse City, Michigan
Webberville, Michigan
Baxter, Minnesota
Hopkins, Minnesota
Morris, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Florence, Mississippi
Wright City, Missouri
Osmond, Nebraska
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Reno, Nevada
Manchester, New Hampshire
Jamesburg, New Jersey
Neptune, New Jersey
Sparta, New Jersey
Albuquerque, New Mexico(2 reports)
Chimayo, New Mexico
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Farmington, New Mexico
Mesilla Park, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Berkshire, New York
Binghamton, New York
East Rochester, New York
Himrod, New York
Jefferson, New York
Jordan, New York
Middle Grove, New York
Middletown, New York
Mount Vision, New York
Ozone Park, New York
Poughkeepsie, New York
Southold, New York
Yonkers, New York
Candler, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Cornelius, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Julian, North Carolina
Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Sanford, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina(2 reports)
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Ashville, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Mogadore, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
Uniontown, Ohio
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Baker City, Oregon
Bend, Oregon
Chiloquin, Oregon
Dayton, Oregon(2 reports)
Halfway, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon(2 reports)
Brookhaven, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Milford, Pennsylvania
Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
North Augusta, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Knoxville, Tennessee
Lenoir City, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Abilene, Texas
Austin, Texas(3 reports)
Belton, Texas
Canyon Lake, Texas
Cibolo, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Houston, Texas
Hurst, Texas
Irving, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
Portland, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(3 reports)
Terrell, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Farmington, Utah
Herriman, Utah
Magna, Utah
Moab, Utah
South Jordan, Utah
Tremonton, Utah
Essex Junction, Vermont
Lexington, Virginia
Mc Lean, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Palmyra, Virginia
Blaine, Washington
Bothell, Washington
East Port Orchard, Washington
Gig Harbor, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Parkwood, Washington
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles East, Washington
Port Orchard, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington(2 reports)
Seattle, Washington(2 reports)
Spokane, Washington(2 reports)
Stanwood, Washington
Charleston, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Ripley, West Virginia
Birchwood, Wisconsin
Menasha, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin(2 reports)
Cody, Wyoming
Riverton, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Feb 21, 2017, laineygirl from Mountain Top, PA wrote: I purchased my Russian Sage as the standard, tall plant years ago. It grew and bloomed fantastically for 12 years! However, I should have paid more attention to its growing requirements, specifically to avoid "winter wet." In the winter of 2015-2016, we had an extremely cold season when the temperatures dipped below -20 degrees F! Our specific location is on the side of a small mountain, and is subjected to biting, swirling winds without very much sunshine. So the conditions for my poor Russian Sage were not good: long-lasting layers of ice and snow covering the wet soil, and less than ideal drainage in the best of times. I loved this plant so much that I will try again in a better location. It looked so graceful amongst my other flowers. Its stems actually seemed to fill in some e... read more |
Negative | On Apr 17, 2015, dduff from Fort Collins, CO (Zone 5b) wrote: The straight species is over-planted and 'Filigran' has more attractive foliage, is less likely to flop, and has longer lasting, more attractive blooms. Select it instead. |
Positive | On Apr 17, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: Tough, easy, and adaptable. Requires full sun. Blooms here in late summer into fall, never in spring. |
Negative | On Apr 16, 2015, marlene67 from Indianapolis, IN wrote: Although this is a lovely plant and I would like very much to grow it more, it is very hard on me as it provokes a bad allergic reaction. Just made the difficult choice not to move it to what would have been a good location. |
Positive | On Aug 25, 2011, marymary22 from Bothell, WA wrote: I got a Russian Sage this spring from a online nursery, it died and I contacted the nursery I got it from and they sent me a new one. I wasn't sure how this one was going to take so I put it in a ceramic pot on my patio and let it grow. The garden I am going to put it in was not ready until now, I need to know if I can transplant it into that garden area this fall or if I need to winter it over in the pot and plant in the spring? I lost 8 lavender plants and 2 rosemarie plants last year due to a very cold winter, I don't want to lose this plant as I love it! Right now it is in full bloom on my patio, very beautiful!! Can I transplant it early fall? Here in the Northwest we usually have mild falls and winter doesn't start until December or January and this year our summer has been ver... read more |
Positive | On Mar 21, 2011, SerenaSYH from Overland Park-Kansas City, KS wrote: I am absolutely crazy about Russian sage. For me in Kansas City, it bloomed in mid-July almost through the entire month of November until the first snows finally made it stop! I tried so hard to grow all kinds of honeybee-friendly perennials with absolutely no luck! I had all kinds of sage, lavender, catmint-nepata, verbena, agastache, bee balm, you name it, I tried to buy it.I spent tons of money and got sooo disappointed. I even have a Linden tree in my backyard and not a single honeybee would visit. Then in June 2010 I bought two Russian sage and as soon as the first blooms opened, it brought tons and tons of honeybees. I had just two plants and the honeybees would constantly swarm them! This Spring 2011, I have already started to dig up all of my non-herb perennials, and these will al... read more |
Negative | On Aug 24, 2010, Augustifolia from Frostburg, MD wrote: My Perovskia has totally taken over the bed in which I planted it 18 years ago. I live in Zone 5 to 4 and get a lot of wind, snow, and really cold temperatures. Nothing seems to stop its progress. I have dug up one plant with much difficulty because the roots are very deep. A second plant close to the foundation is a little more controlled but is still suckering throughout the flower bed. The largest plant is impossible! I have cut the plant back within inches of the soil and it seems even happier and more invasive. It is planted in clay soil that receives only rain water and gets full sun the entire day. I discovered that the only way to remove the suckers is with a shovel and that I have to keep digging all the way back to the plant. I am tempted to totally remove the plant by u... read more |
Positive | On Aug 23, 2010, goodc from Barnard, KS wrote: I love this plant but have found I apparently have two different types. One has much prettier, heavier blooms than the other types. I have dug up runners to give to friends, but also propagated some by cuttings. In the middle of Kansas, it blooms from mid July to last of August. |
Positive | On Jul 1, 2010, themikeman from Concord, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: beautiful, hardy, nice smelling plant..ive had mine only 2 years and they would have been 2 or 3 times the size they are this year if I hadnt cut them back early this spring thinking i was helping them by cutting brittle dead stalks off..i didnt realize the brittle dead appering old stalks rejuvanate and send out new shoots the whole length up the old ones..so for the love of god!! pleaze!! nobody cut these back in the late fall, winter, or early spring!! just leave them alone and they will thrive!! give them fertilizer but keep your fingers off them..LOL..mike. |
Positive | On Apr 6, 2010, flying_squirrel from Priest River, ID (Zone 5b) wrote: I love this plant for it's beautiful and delicate look even though it is a tough plant for difficult conditions. I have it planted on a south facing slope where it thrives in the hot sun and dry clay soil. In the northern Idaho mountain valley here it survives the cold winters and the rather dry summers. Planted with other drought tolerant plants such as agastache, penstemon, kashmir sage and coreoposis, it provides a stunning display that requires little care. And the deer leave it alone(and that is a big plus). I have a few self seeded plants appear also which I appreciate. |
Positive | On Oct 16, 2009, purplesun from Krapets, This is a fantastic plant. It produces small, intensely blue flowers that combine to produce an effect of a delicate, translucent sky-blue mass. Everyone keeps asking what it is, and bees can't seem to get enough of it. |
Neutral | On Sep 18, 2009, ZSERAI from Sun City, AZ wrote: I live near Phoenix, Az and visited SLC, Utah this summer and b ecome completely enthralled w/the Russian Sage. I've checked several ordering sites that show Zone 9 for growing. Unfortunately I've lost other plants that just don't seem to take our intense summer heat. Does anyone know if it will grow here in Phoenix? Please help!!!!! |
Neutral | On May 13, 2009, anelson77 from Seattle, WA wrote: i love this plant in other people's gardens. I have about 6 of them, but am frustrated that none look all that great. They just haven't grown much. Some were planted in full sun, very poor sandy soil, 4 years ago. Others in part sun, good soil, 2 years ago. I've tried various amounts of water and neglect. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2009, zak1962 from Pittsburgh, PA wrote: I have five (5) of these in front of the retaining wall that holds up my city yard. (See picture to the right) They flower continuously from late June through the end of the season. |
Positive | On Aug 28, 2008, Jodaen from McLean, VA wrote: I have had this plant at the top of my herb garden for 8 years. It stands about 5' tall & 6' across and is in constant bloom from late spring through frost. It's the tallest plant in the garden but also has no problem with draping beautifully down the wall. The crown has gotten wider over the years but I have never had a problem with it invading into its neighbors' territory nor with shoots or seedlings in the yard. Mine is not very easy to propagate by softwood cuttings, maybe 4 in 20 take root each year, but each one is a treasure as all of my friends & family want a scion. New spring branchlets tend to propagate best. |
Positive | On Jul 28, 2008, thejps from Sparta, NJ wrote: We have an extremely high level of deer activity in our yard, and in two years they haven't so much as nibbled! Yay!!!! |
Positive | On May 13, 2008, angele wrote: I love this plant that is beginning its third year in my garden. Gave it a hard pruning in early spring and now on May 13 there are many flower buds forming. I can't believe how long and abundantly blooming this pretty plant is. |
Positive | On Sep 1, 2007, thesagewizard from Tipton, IA (Zone 5a) wrote: I love this plant. It's now 5 yrs old and doing wonderfully. Winters here can get to -30F a few days every year but R.Sage has come back bigger each summer. It blooms here from late July to hard frost. I'll be trying to separate some offshoots next spring, or seed. Whichever works best. |
Positive | On Aug 24, 2007, queenofthegarde from Whittier, CA wrote: This plant is lovely! I have had it at the foot of a pink-white bi-color crape myrtle and they look beautiful together. I have not found it to be invasive after 4 years. Perhaps conditions aren't ideal for its spreading. Unlike others, I have not noticed hummers near it. It grows and blooms with almost no water. Its soil is particularly sandy, an unusual soil type in my yard. I am going to try my hand at progating it! |
Positive | On Jun 4, 2007, akcrafter from Philadelphia, PA wrote: My Russian sage tumbles over the edge of a stone fence in a sunny spot in front of a dogwood tree. I pruned it heavily last fall as it was about six feet around and 3-4 feet tall. It is larger than ever and seems to have creeped under the concrete steps and on into another bed of ferns and ivy that is actually pretty shady. Lovely look and the smell of the crushed leaves is great. I am planting more in a sunny area with broom, spirea, lavender, yarrow and soon to be some heather and tall grasses. I never thought of the sunflowers, but have plenty of sun on a sloping edge of the garden, so they might be a nice complement. |
Positive | On Feb 18, 2007, Bellisgirl from Spokane, WA wrote: Ive had this plant for over five years now and really love it. I have mine in the back of the border and it makes a wonderful backdrop for my other plants. Pretty lavender colored flowers. Very drought tolerant and hardy. Mine is in partial sun, and is about 3-and a half feet tall and wide. It would probably get even larger if it were in full sun. Have had several volunteers come up from it. Would definitely recommend this plant! |
Positive | On Jun 16, 2006, amg52amg from Davenport, IA wrote: My single Russian sage has been a highlight in one of my garden areas near the road for over 5 years. Last fall, a few babies popped up near it, and this spring, I have lots to move around and share! A striking display can be seen at the Kirkwood Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where multiple sages have been given room to grow without competition, surrounded by dark mulch, and lovely in all 4 seasons. |
Positive | On Dec 10, 2005, bigcityal from Appleton, WI (Zone 5a) wrote: Nice subtle color. Fragrant. Bees love it. Nice winter interest. |
Neutral | On Aug 26, 2005, flowercrazy39 from Manchester, NH wrote: So far no luck for me with this plant but it's doing well at my sister's in Goffstown, NH. Her soil is much sandier and drier than mine though. But I've tried moving it so we'll see how it does. |
Positive | On Sep 21, 2004, Lavenderlady from Buhl, ID wrote: We have a lavender farm here in Idaho. Zone 5-6. I wanted something that would prolong the purple color in my fields and around a canal. Well, I sure got it. I love this plant. I cannot wait for it to naturalize itself throughout the area. I have had lots of people comment on it as we also put a row (hedge like) up into the lavender field. It was flanked with a row of teddy bear sunflowers. BEAUTIFUL color. I had a lady use the teddy bear sunflowers and Russian Sage in buckets for a wedding. |
Neutral | On Aug 16, 2004, santafe_julie from Santa Fe, NM wrote: I moved into a house 2 years ago that had 7 of these growing. They are quite beautiful and bloom mid-June through Sept. in Santa Fe. The humming birds and bees love them. I don't water them much, the only real care is pruning them in early spring. My only problem with them is they are somewhat invasive. I have dozens - maybe hundreds of new plants coming up up to 25 feet away for the original plants (starting from seeds) and they also grow from shoots underground. If you plant one, make sure you account for weeding time! |
Positive | On Aug 4, 2004, saya from Heerlen, I've collected seeds in 2003. Just put your hand around a dried flowerstalk and rip the seeds of. They look a little wooly and at first sight you think they cannot be seeds. But they are ! They were easy to sow. I've followed the instructions from Tom Clothier's site: " Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), if no germ. in 3-4 wks, move to -4 to +4ºC (24-39ºF) for 2-4 wks ". I've planted the seedlings already out in the garden where they grow quick. |
Positive | On Aug 3, 2004, earlene11 from Mount Vision, NY wrote: I have grown Russian Sage in my zone 4-5 garden near Cooperstown, New York for about ten years. My one plant has survived winters where temperatures dropped to -30 for two or three nights in a row for several of these years. The winter of 2003-04 was one of those. I noticed this spring that half the plant finally suffered winterkill. This fall I will see if I can divide it because it's been such a good old soldier, I really can't bear to just let it go. I'll report back what I find when I dig it up. I'll start cuttings outdoors and indoors this fall as well, with and without hormone powder, by way of experiment. I wish this plant would have seeded itself in, but oh, well. I've bought four new Russian Sage babies so next fall I should have the beginnings of a drift. It blooms late ... read more |
Positive | On May 8, 2004, bayouposte from Bossier City, LA (Zone 8a) wrote: Pleasing appearance and scent endears Russian Sage to me, but ability to take heat and drought makes it easy. Have shared many little sages that have come from stem cuttings and have also moved some to other areas where its attractive silvery foliage draws the eye. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2004, patp from Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) wrote: We planted Russian Sage last year. It didn't grow much, and it does lean toward the sun, as killerdaisy said. The crushed leaves smell great, and I was delighted when its bare winter sticks sprouted new growth this spring. I'll trim it to 6 inches, as sue1952 recommends and look forward to more growth. |
Positive | On Apr 14, 2004, sue1952 from Utica, MI wrote: In SE Michigan - This plant is great for sunny spots and very drought tolerant. Be sure to prune down to 6" in very early spring. I especially like to break off the branches in the dead of winter and take in the smell of sage from summer. |
Positive | On Apr 1, 2004, docaly from Albuquerque, NM wrote: Perovskia is one of my all-time favorites because of its whispy form, glorious scent and ease of growth in mixed environments. |
Positive | On Aug 8, 2003, Ladyfern from Jeffersonville, IN (Zone 6a) wrote: The flowers taste sweet and can be used in salads. It is short-lived in havy, rich, moist soils. |
Positive | On Dec 30, 2002, ericlmorris wrote: This is an extremely hardy plant and beautiful in every season. The silver skeleton of winter adds interest and beauty to the dull browns of my garden. |
Neutral | On Aug 8, 2001, killerdaisy from Dallas, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Creates a sagelike scent when leaves are crushed. Tends to lean towards sun. Take cuttings in summer; no division necessary. |