How to Grow Russian Sage – from Planting to Propagation

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia or Salvia yangii), is an absolutely awesome perennial plant that I have always enjoyed in my garden. With its silvery-green foliage and tall spires of lavender-blue flowers, Russian Sage has a knack for standing out among the perennials. It has serrated feathery leaves and aromatic scent that make it a popular choice for those looking to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to their outdoor space. Who doesn’t want to do that?

This practically perfect perennial plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for gardeners looking for low-maintenance yet beautiful additions to their landscape. It’s native range includes Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Tibet, Western China, and some areas of Europe. I always try to avoid plants that tend to be invasive and I’ve found Russian sage to be extremely well behaved in my climate (zone 7b Tennessee). In fact (sadly) I’ve never once had it reseed.

Let’s get into some details on growing Russian Sage in the garden.

Russian Sage Uses in the garden

One of my favorite features of Russian Sage is it’s form. This plant grows upright with flowering stalks that can reach 4 ft tall depending on the variety. The flowers are purple in tint although there are some variations (again depending on the variety). The leaves have a distinct sagey scent but don’t be confused with Sage as this is not considered an edible plant. Russian sage attracts various pollinators from bees to butterflies.

Growing Russian Sage: Ideal Conditions

Russian Sage is drought tolerant and low maintenance overall once it is established. In fact it actually thrives in dry environments with a little bit of rainfall. It loves the summer heat. The ideal location to plant Russian sage would be in a full sun area that stays dry. It would do very well in areas near hardscaping, driveways, sidewalks, and streetscapes.

For success with growing Russian sage avoid areas that get waterlogged, plant your plant with the crown of the root just above the soil surface, and go easy on the mulch. Too much moisture can introduce root rot. It also does not enjoy too much competition from weeds. I found that the hard way when a bed of mine got over run with Bermuda grass and overpowered my poor Russian sage.

Key Factors for Russian Sage

• Dry soil – Avoid waterlogged areas
• Full sun
• Summer Heat
• Low Weed Competition

HIGH Pest Resistance

What would a plant profile on Growing The Home Garden be without mentioning the deer? Russian sage is extremely good to have when you have deer around. They don’t touch it, well at least not much. Deer will sample a lot of things but if they don’t like it they won’t be back. Russian sage gets left alone by deer and by rabbits too. Keep this in mind so that you can interplant with other more deer prone perennials. Mixing deer proof with deer prone perennials may confuse the deer and provide some protection for the deer prone plants!

Companion plants that go well with Russian Sage

When planning your garden layout with Russian Sage, it’s nice to know some companion plants that grow well with it! Here are 10 fantastic options for companion plants that go well with Russian Sage:

Lavender:

Pairing Russian Sage with fragrant lavender creates a sensory experience in your garden, combining two visually striking plants with soothing scents.

How to Propagate Lavender from Cuttings

Black-Eyed Susan:

The vibrant yellow blooms of Black-Eyed Susan contrast beautifully with the soft purple hues of Russian Sage, adding a pop of color to your garden. Rudbeckia comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes so you are sure to find one that is complementary to your garden.

Catmint:

Catmint’s delicate blue flowers create a lovely contrast against the silvery foliage of Russian Sage, offering a harmonious blend of colors and textures. Catmint is great with a lot of different perennials.

Sedum:

The succulent foliage of Sedum provides a unique textural element when planted alongside Russian Sage, adding interest and variety to your garden design. Sedums also have low water requirements which pairs well with RS.

Yarrow:

Also known as Achillea millifolium, Yarrow has flat-topped flower clusters in various shades, Yarrow complements Russian Sage with fern like foliage and a contrasting flower form. Read more on Yarrow/Achillea here: Achillea millifolium

Salvia:

Pairing Russian Sage with Salvia adds depth to your garden design, as the vibrant hues of Salvia flowers create a striking contrast against the wispy foliage of Russian Sage. I may be biased but I pretty much believe that salvia goes well with everything. Read more on Salvia here: How Much Salvia is Enough?

Coreopsis:

The cheerful blooms of Coreopsis bring a burst of sunshine to your garden when planted alongside Russian Sage, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. I love this plant too! Grow more coreopsis, just do it, you won’t regret it! How to Grow Coreopsis in the Garden

Penstemon:

Penstemon’s tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, or purple provide a striking visual contrast to the airy blooms of Russian Sage, adding a touch of elegance to your garden.

‘Husker’s Red’ Penstemon pictured

Echinacea:

The bold and colorful flowers of Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, pair beautifully with Russian Sage, creating a vibrant and eye-catching garden display. There are lots of colors to choose from but I’ve found the purple main type of echinacea does the best.

Ornamental Grasses:

Native switchgrass, like ‘Northwind’ as I planted in the above video, serves as an excellent backdrop for Russian Sage, adding height and texture to your garden while complementing its graceful appearance.

How to Prune Russian Sage

Pruning Russian Sage is pretty simple. Russian Sage should be pruned in early spring before new growth emerges.

To prune Russian Sage, start by cutting back the previous year’s growth to about 6-8 inches above the ground. This encourages new growth from the base of the plant and prevents it from becoming too leggy. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to make clean cuts, avoiding any tearing or crushing of the stems.

Regular pruning helps Russian Sage maintain a compact and tidy shape, preventing it from sprawling or becoming unruly in the garden. Removing dead or damaged stems during pruning promotes air circulation around the plant, reducing the risk of diseases.

A Key Point on Timing your Pruning

Prune your Russian Sage after the last frost date in your area to protect new growth from potential frost damage. When you prune you may trigger growth and if you have a frost that new growth will get damaged.

Propagation of Russian sage

My favorite section, plant propagation! Propagation of Russian sage can be very successful. The method for propagating Russian sage that I use is through cuttings.

• To propagate Russian sage through cuttings, select a stem that is not flowering and is free from any signs of disease or damage.
• Using sharp, clean scissors, cut a 4-6 inch section of the stem just below a leaf node.
• Remove the lower leaves to expose the nodes where roots will develop.
• Dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone to encourage root growth,
• then plant it in a well-draining potting mix.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and place the cutting in a warm location with indirect sunlight.

For more on Propagating Russian Sage read this post: How to Propagate Russian Sage

Once roots have formed, the new plant can be transplanted into the garden or a larger container.

Varieties of Russian sage

There are quite a few Russian sage varieties for gardeners to enjoy. When it comes to selecting the perfect Russian sage for your landscape pay attention to the size of the plant so it will fit your intended location. Here are 15 captivating varieties of Russian sage that you may want to consider.

1. ‘Blue Spire’: Known for its striking blue flowers and upright growth habit.
2. ‘Little Spire’: A compact variety ideal for smaller gardens or containers.
3. ‘Denim ‘n Lace’: Features unique denim-blue flowers and a more compact size.
4. ‘Lacey Blue’: Delicate, lacy foliage and vibrant purple-blue flowers.
5. ‘Longin’: Taller variety with long, arching stems and lavender-blue blooms.
6. ‘Blue Jean Baby’: Compact and bushy with bright blue flowers.
7. ‘Taiga’: Distinctive for its bi-color flowers that transition from purple to white.
8. ‘Blue Haze’: Soft blue flowers and a more relaxed growth habit.
9. ‘Little Lace’: Dwarf variety with finely cut foliage and lavender-blue flowers.
10. ‘Peek-a-Blue’: Compact and floriferous, with deep blue flowers.
11. ‘Blue Spires’: Tall and elegant, with intense blue flower spikes.
12. ‘Russian Gold: Unique golden foliage that adds a pop of color to the garden.
13. ‘Blue Marvel: Robust and vigorous, with intense blue flowers.
14. ‘Blue Steel”: Silvery foliage and deep blue flowers for a cool-toned garden palette.
15. ‘Blue Velvet’: Velvety blue flowers and a bushy, compact form.

Now you should have a good idea of how to grow your own Russian sage! If this was helpful check out one of these articles below: