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 look after, and it blooms from mid-summer by means of fall.
Wanting extra like lavender or catmint and smelling barely like frequent 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). Despite the fact that the classification has been up to date, the botanical names of every selection mentioned on this article can be known as their authentic identify 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 help to maintain from flopping over.
‘Blue Spire’
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botanical identify 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 |
Referred to 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 crops. 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.
Keep in mind to plant Russian sage someplace that receives full solar for at the very least 6 hours a day, or she’ll certainly flop and change into leggy. As soon as it has change into leggy or flops over, these stems won’t ever change into sturdy. It could 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 identify 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 finished by the Chicago Botanic Backyard referred to ‘Filigran’ as a bigger, less-refined model of ‘Little Lace™’. The violet coloration 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 absolutely mature. Pairing it with a sturdy shrub or perennial will assist naturally help it.
Its flowers are a steely blue, making a shocking centerpiece of a basis backyard. Place different, shorter crops round “Filigran’ for an fascinating garden piece that’s positive to have individuals speaking. Lower 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 identify 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 coloration, this blue-violet cultivar will certainly please the eyes when in full bloom. Its flowers are intently spaced, so the colour is full and vibrant.
When you’ve got a small outside gardening area or have a nook it’s worthwhile to fill, ‘Denim n Lace’ could match the invoice. It simply tucks away in a nook, alongside a border, or in containers. Simply make sure it will get full solar for peak efficiency.
Professional tip: When planted close to sure species, fennel can have an allelopathic impact on different crops, together with Russian sage. Russian sage is extraordinarily appropriate with most different crops, however preserve fennel at a sage, er, protected distance.
‘Blue Metal’
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botanical identify 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 progress behavior with mild lavender blooms. The erect and silvery stems are full of 5-6” panicles filled with tiny flowers, giving a shimmering impact when blown round within the wind.
Present well-draining soil and high gown with somewhat 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 increase your Russian sage plot.
Compact Varieties
Compact varieties could develop extra densely and uniformly, rising simply 18-36 inches tall and 2-3 toes broad.
‘Peek-A-Blue®’
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botanical identify 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 coloration. It was particularly bred to be stout and compact, excellent for growers with small gardening areas.
It grows quick and requires little or no consideration, so it’s nice for freshmen 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 principle factor to recollect is it wants well-draining soil as it’ll underperform or die in soggy, moist circumstances.
‘Lacey Blue’
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botanical identify 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 right down to just some inches within the spring. This can encourage heavy, dense summer season progress with blooms lasting till the autumn.
Keep 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 may very well be a 20+ yr life!
‘Blue Jean Child’
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botanical identify 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 a terrific choice for growers throughout the globe. Simply you’ll want to preserve the soil well-draining to maintain her blissful.
These crops are persistently productive, formed, and sized every season, and this selection holds onto its coloured calyx properly into fall. Take pleasure in it lengthy after its bloom time has handed by, generally into October.
In the event you’re going for backyard drama, attempt pairing ‘Blue Jean Child’ with scarlet bee balm, coneflower, or bold-colored asters.
‘Little Spire’
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botanical identify 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 out of doors seating space.
Area different crops 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 take pleasure in its minty aroma.
‘Rocketman’
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botanical identify 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 could assist repel mosquitoes. Add a novel flare to a hearth 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 will possibly 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 identify 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 brilliant pink or salmon zinnias, rudbeckia, and pink and magenta Dianthus. This compact cultivar may be grown in containers and does properly in mass plantings.
Russian sage provides 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 with regards to fertilizer or watering. Nevertheless, it doesn’t love humid environments.
‘Sage Recommendation’
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botanical identify 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 very 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 received’t want to fret about supporting it. It’s just like ‘Denim n Lace’ in look with darker calyxes and broader leaves.
‘Sage Recommendation’ may be reduce, dried, or displayed as a aromatic, wild-looking bouquet. Benefit from the plant by means of the autumn, chopping 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 may be grown in containers, mass plantings, basis gardens, borders, cottage gardens, or perennial patches.
- Russian sage, by nature, is deer-resistant and largely disease-resistant.
- Pollinators love Russian sage as a result of great amount and form of the flowers.
- Nicely-draining soil is essential to its survival.
- It’s low-maintenance, thrives in sizzling, dry climates, and ought to be pruned yearly.
Remaining Ideas
Russian sage is cherished 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.