Russian sage is a deciduous perennial shrub with upright grayish white stems and attractive silvery gray leaves that provide a soft, wispy texture in the landscape or garden. In late summer and fall Russian Sage produces 12 inch spires of small, tubular lavender-blue flowers providing a cooling effect during what is typically a hot time of the year. Flowering persists for two or three months so the butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial pollinators will appreciate you for planting this one!

Growing in a mounding clump about 3 to 5 feet tall with a spread of about 3 feet, Russian Sage is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or in mass plantings in sunny landscape and garden borders. A fine addition to herb gardens, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, rock gardens, perennial gardens, fragrance gardens, blue color theme gardens, and the Xeriscape (low water needs).


Growing Preferences

Russian Sage is easy to grow in a variety of soils, including well-draining clay, but prefers a loamy to sandy, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH ranging from 7.0 to 7.7 on the pH scale. It is also salt tolerant and drought tolerant and therefore suited for growing in seaside gardens.