Russian Sage
Some Quick Facts About Russian Sage
Russian sage is a semi-woody, deciduous shrub that has gray-white upright stems, and silvery-gray lobed leaves that may grow to 2 inches in length. The older stems on the shrub are woody at their bases. The leaves and stems give off an odor that can be very pungent if they are bruised or crushed. In the late months of Summer and in Autumn, this sage brings forth one-foot long spires of lavender flowers that are tubular and small. The flowering continues for two to three months. Russian sage generally is a clump-type shrub, about three to five feet tall, and two or three feet wide. The plant can fall over, especially if it isn't located in a position to absorb full sunlight.
Sage plants can create a purple-colored haze in your butterfly garden. The “Blue haze” variety has leaves with almost no lobes at all, and the “Filagren” variety has leaves almost like those of a fern. The “Blue Mist” variety has flowers of a lovely light blue color, and it usually blooms fairly early in the season. “Blue Spire” sage has flowers that tend to be darker, and violet in color. “Longin” is a type that spreads out less than other types, and is more upright.
Russian sage is originally found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where it grows particularly well in rocky or gravelly areas. It prefers full sun, but will survive in shade, if you don't mind staking it. It is fairly resistant to drought, and performs best in the United States in areas with temperate climates.
Russian sage is happiest in plantings with mass. You can include them in a border with other mixed plants. The stems in the color of pale gray provide a vertically strong element, and they can be especially pretty in the winter, when they don't have any leaves. Sage should be cut back nearly to ground level before spring growth begins, to encourage new growth. Sage does fine in chalky and dry soils with a high pH level, and it is drought and salt tolerant. It is an excellent shrub to plant in a garden by the sea.
Russian sage is fairly easy to grow, and it prefers being placed in full sun and in an area with well-drained soil. The gray-colored leaves and stems provide and excellent background for the flowers of pale lavender.
These plants do well when pruned back to about 6 inches, right before growth starts, in the spring. In warmer areas, you can achieve two bloomings if you deadhead them. But even if you don't pull the dead blooms, you'll have a very attractive winter flower.