Russian Sage
Salvia yangii
Family Lamiaceae
Silver stems and a long drift of lavender-blue that reads like smoke — Russian sage blooms from summer into fall, exactly when most borders have given up. The worst spot you own, all reflected heat and gravel, is the spot where it looks its best.
This is a plant for the places hoses don't reach: hellstrips, driveways, the dry south wall. Bees keep it humming to frost, and the silver skeleton stands through winter. Give it your hottest strip of ground and stop apologizing for it.
Full Sun — full stop
Low water
Moderate growth
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing russian sage? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries russian sage — Salvia yangii, print Nº 409, “Russian Sage.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what russian sage actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Russian Sage · Common problems
Common russian sage problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- None
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Root Rot in irrigated clay (kindness kills it)
Russian Sage · Growing & propagation
Growing russian sage
- Light
- Full Sun — full stop
- Water
- Very low
Thrives where hoses don't reach
Soil- Lean, gravelly, drained · pH 7.0 - 8.0
Fertilizer- Never
Feeding makes it flop
Pruning- Spring
Cut to 6-12 in as buds break low — The one rule: hard spring cutback keeps it dense; skipped, it turns to silver deadwood.
Spacing- 2-3 ft
How to plant & propagate russian sage
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Russian Sage · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Russian Sage · Yearly calendar
The russian sage year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomPruneBloomJuly to October
PruneMarch to May
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Russian Sage · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Salvia yangii
Russian Sage in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
Attracts- Bees
Habitat- Dry/rocky
Moisture- Upland / dry
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What russian sage is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Hellstrips
- Use
- Xeriscape
- Use
- Late-season blue
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Russian Sage · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a russian sage variety
'Denim 'n Lace' (compact, upright); 'Little Spire'; 'Blue Jean Baby'
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Russian Sage
Salvia yangii
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Salvia yangii
- Plant family
- Lamiaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- PEAT10
- Invasive risk
- Low
- Other names
- Perovskia atriplicifolia
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Russian Sage
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Russian Sage questions, answered straight.
Is russian sage safe for kids and pets?
Russian Sage is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate russian sage?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where russian sage sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily