Leaf
Doronenko · CC BY 2.5
Russian sage
Salvia yangii B.T.Drew
Also known as: Perovskia
Family: Lamiaceae
80 cm to 1.2 m tall
Planted in sunny borders and rock gardens, poor, free-draining soil
Flowering: July – September
Full sun
Hardy, to about -20°C, needs very well-drained soil in winter
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The silvery foliage and long, airy stems of Russian sage create a bluish haze effect in borders, which lasts all summer and shows remarkable drought resistance.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, finely cut, silvery, aromatic when crushed
🌸 Flowers
Small, blue-violet, grouped in long, light, airy spikes
🍎 Fruits
Small achene
🪵 Bark
Upright, whitish stems, semi-woody at the base
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Central Asia; widely grown in France as a shrub for dry borders
🐝 Value for pollinators
Long spikes rich in nectar, one of the most attractive summer flowerings for bees
✂️ Horticultural uses
Shrub for dry borders, planted for its silvery foliage and long, airy blue-violet spikes, excellent combined with grasses
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable toxicity known
🌿 Other Lamiaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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