Russian Sage

Brief Description

The Russian Sage is a colorful shrub that fits perfectly in any landscape in greater Prescott. Its spike-like clusters have beautiful flowers near the top. They are very low maintenance and drought tolerant.

Origin

Central Asian & Tibet

Description

Common Name – Russian Sage

Botanical Name – Salvia Yangii

Plant Type – Deciduous

Mature Size – 3 to 5 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide

Sun Exposure – Full Sun

Bloom Time – Summer

Flower Color – Many Different Colors

Hardiness Zone – 4 to 9

Planting

Planting is based on space availability. Make sure the Russian Sage won’t grow into other plants and nothing will grow into it. It thrives in a full-sun location. Give it average water when it’s young, then move the emitters away from the trunk as it matures.

Care

The Russian Sage is very low maintenance. Since it has rhizomes (sends out roots & shoots, thus increasing growth), you may have to trim out new growth if they’re in the way. Besides the rhizomes, when it comes out of dormancy in Spring, then trim it to 6 inches tall. This will encourage robust new growth and awesome flowers! Keep in mind that it’s drought tolerant, so make sure it’s not getting too much water.

Flowers

The flowers are in various blue & purple hues and have tubular flower blooms with 12 to 15 inch flower clusters.

Varieties

The ‘Denim ‘n’ Lace’ is one of the most popular due to its sky-blue flowers. The ‘Crazy Blue’ will be shorter than the ‘Denim ‘n’ Lace’ but beautiful violet-blue flowers make this Sage really pop!

Invasive

The Russian Sage is not invasive. But as we mentioned earlier, because it has rhizomes, you may need to trim the new growth if it’s encroaching in unwanted territory.

Lastly, we highly recommend Watter’s Garden Center, Mortimer Nursery, or Prescott Valley Nursery as great places to both purchase shrubs & trees but to also ask questions because these are the experts.