Russian Sage (Perovskia)
Perennial
- Lavender-blue blooms last for over ten weeks!
- Leaves are fragrant when crushed.
- Thrives in hot, dry sites where other perennials can't grow.
- Attracts pollinators like butterflies, bees, & more!
- Zones 4-9, sun, 4' tall x 4' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Russian sage
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 3 - 4' tall x wide
Flower color: Lavender blue
Foliage color: Silver-green or blue-green
Season of interest: Midsummer to fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Suitable for slopes, heat tolerant, fragrant, drought tolerant, deer resistant, best for beginners
Uses: Background, border, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, naturalizing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun). Best flowering occurs in full sun locations. Stems are more likely to flop if plants are grown in part shade.
Water: Dry to medium. Water regularly until established.
Spacing: 2 - 3 ft.
Fertilizing: Generally unnecessary but can be applied in spring if needed.
Winterizing: No special care is needed. Foliage can remain standing in the winter.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back plants almost to the ground in late winter to early spring as soon as new growth appears. Plants have deep taproots and don't like to move once established.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
Got the quart size, so very little digging was needed. It's already growing in the first month, and I'm looking forward to seeing it take off next spring!!
These are very tough plants! I placed my original order for 12 Russian Sage plants on 05/07 and received them 05/16. They came well packaged however, I did not like the staples in the plastic, I had to open each one with scissors and it was quite time consuming. The plants looked a little beat up from travel, but I was eager to get them in the ground and planted them right away and watered thoroughly. By 05/21 they were all completely brown and looked dead. I sent GGP photos of the plants and they honored their claim process and sent me 12 more plants that I received on 05/24, very fast shipping the second time around! The 12 new Russian Sage plants looked about the same as the last batch, slightly beat up during their travel. I actually left all of the "dead" plants in the ground and just planted the new plants right next to them. I live in the high desert and over the past 6 weeks have received freezing nights, windstorms and 100 degree heat waves. It is now July 1st and all but two of the 24 plants have survived! The little brown sticks that I believed to be dead have bright green new growth! I couldn't believe it! I live in Central Oregon, our zip code always says we are in hardiness zone of 6b, that is not accurate in my opinion and would say we are like a zone 5a with inter-mountain west tough terrain. Our days and nights can fluctuate more than 50 degrees. I am VERY IMPRESSED with GGP and these Russian Sage plants and highly recommend! The plants are small now but I am hoping they follow the old garden adage "First year sleep, second year creep, third year leap".
Beautifully packaged
Great plants but a late freeze wiped them out
We’re sorry you’re having trouble with your plants! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2025, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Wasn't sure if it was going to make it. Growing slowly but starting to bloom.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary.
Got three healthy happy plants that are doing great in my backyard
Very happy with the Russian Sage delivery. Plants are in the ground and doing well. They smell good too.
Some plants did ok. And others just flay out died. Probably will stick to buying in person.
Hello! We're sorry to hear that you've had some trouble with your new plants. Please email pictures of the plant to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we do have a 60-day guarantee on all of our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we will be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
The plants arrived in excellent condition and are growing well. Love Great Garden Plants.
I would like to say that your employees take great care in packing each and every plant. EVERY plant arrived to me in Texas in absolutely perfect condition!!
Thank You So Very Kindly For Your Time,
Robert Lee
I bought 5 plants and they all arrived in good shake, expertly packed. So far, they have been growing well, and one has started to flower.
I was sick when the Russian Sage arrived and it did not get planted for over a week. It is hanging in there, so I would say it’s remarkably tough. I am keeping my fingers crossed for it.
We are very impressed!! Our plants arrived in perfect condition and are beautiful. Your safe packaging was great and really appreciated. They are sturdy and healthy and starting to bloom. Thank you so much!
My first purchase of Russian Sage. I let it acclimate for 72 hours in the shipped pots and then planted. It is growing and I cannot wait to see it next year. Smells wondeva! Healthy plants arrived quickly and I will probably buy more.
I planted it a bit later and we went straight into hot summer. Plant sprouted up like crazy in 90+ degree weather bur is holding up well.
Would russian sage do well in large urn
Hello! Russian Sage should be fine in an urn as long as it's an appropriate size. Check out our gardening article about container sizes here:
https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/what-size-pots-should-i-use-for-container-plantings/
Can Russian sage
Phlox
Catmint
Be planted in Patterson NY at this time of year?
Is there a warrantee of any sort on plants ?
Hello! Fall is a fantastic time for planting shrubs, trees, and perennials because the cooler temperatures and shorter days mean less water stress for the plant, and that means less work for you in terms of watering and monitoring your new plants. However, since you mentioned that your area experiences a lot of wind, you'll want to ensure that the newly planted viburnums are well-protected from harsh winter winds, which can dry out plants, especially new transplants. As long as you plant at least 6 weeks before the first hard frost of fall in your area, you should be good to grow! You can view our warranty policy here:
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/our-guarantee
How big are russian sage plants
Hello! Plant size varies widely depending on the variety that you purchase and the time of year. Rest assured, your Russian Sage plant will grow to 4 feet tall and wide at maturity.
My yard has a full white fence. however, the back line is a little hill and we want to plant something that will grow well together against the fence a little tall and pretty colors. I would like 1 or 2 trees but they can't be too tall because of electric lines.
Hello! Below is a link to shrubs and trees we offer that grow up to 10 feet tall.
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/collections/shrubs-trees?pf_t_height=height%3Atall
What time of year to plant?
Fall is a wonderful time to plant perennials and shrubs, especially in warmer zones! To learn more about fall planting, you can read our guide here: https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/our-guide-for-fall-planting/