After learning about this sage that isn’t a sage, I fell in love with Russian sage. Its delicate charm makes it a delight to care for, and it blooms from mid-summer through fall.
Looking more like lavender or catmint and smelling slightly like common sage when the dried leaves are crushed, Russian sage was reclassified as a member of the Salvia family in 2017, now properly referred to as Salvia yangii (Perovskia atriplicifolia). Even though the classification has been updated, the botanical names of each variety discussed in this article will be referred to as their original name due to their wide use in the gardening world.
If you want to add beauty to your garden without much fuss next season, here are 11 Russian sage varieties to check out.
Full-Sized Varieties
A full-sized plant can grow four to five feet tall and two to four feet wide, with some needing support to keep from flopping over.
‘Blue Spire’
‘Blue Spire’ features dark blue flowers, thrives in sunlight, and requires pruning during winter.
| botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Spire’ | |
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height Up to 4 feet |
 | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Known as one of the loveliest, most vigorous, and multi-stemmed varieties, ‘Blue Spire’ features dark blue flowers that bloom for months. Stems are upright, and leaves are deeply lobed. It’s a hybrid of two species, beloved for its carefree nature and airy appearance. ‘Blue Spire’ has been given the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Add this tall cultivar along a border, alongside creeping phlox, or with other pollinator-loved plants. When pruning ‘Blue Spire’ in the late winter or early spring, do so almost to the ground. Propagate by way of softwood cuttings in late spring.
Remember to plant Russian sage somewhere that receives full sun for at least 6 hours a day, or she’ll surely flop and become leggy. Once it has become leggy or flops over, those stems will never become sturdy. It may seem counterintuitive to cut it back, but trust me, hard pruning and a sunny, well-draining area will ensure a strong, healthy plant!
‘Filigran’
‘Filigran’ is characterized by its loose growing habit and is known as an excellent garden focal point.
 | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Filigran’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 4+ feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
An 8-year comparative trial done by the Chicago Botanic Garden referred to ‘Filigran’ as a larger, less-refined version of ‘Little Lace™’. The violet color seems light due to its spread-out, loose nature.
An older cultivar, ‘Filigran,’ has a looser, floppy growing habit and tends to be quite tall, sometimes growing over four feet tall when fully mature. Pairing it with a sturdy shrub or perennial will help naturally support it.
Its flowers are a steely blue, making a stunning centerpiece of a foundation garden. Place other, shorter plants around “Filigran’ for an interesting lawn piece that’s sure to have people talking. Cut it back or allow it to die back to the crown each winter. Just mark it with mulch or a tag so the crown isn’t damaged in the spring.
“Denim n Lace’
‘Denim n Lace’ variety, named for its denim-like hue, is the best choice for small spaces.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Denim n Lace’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Named appropriately for its denim-like color, this blue-violet cultivar will surely please the eyes when in full bloom. Its flowers are closely spaced, so the color is full and vibrant.
If you have a small outdoor gardening space or have a corner you need to fill, ‘Denim n Lace’ may fit the bill. It easily tucks away in a corner, along a border, or in containers. Just be sure it gets full sun for peak performance.
Pro tip: When planted near certain species, fennel can have an allelopathic effect on other plants, including Russian sage. Russian sage is extremely compatible with most other plants, but keep fennel at a sage, er, safe distance.
‘Blue Steel’
The ‘Blue Steel’ variety has upright lavender blooms and is easy to maintain.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Haze’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-11 |
‘Blue Steel’ has a nice, upright growth habit with light lavender blooms. The erect and silvery stems are filled with 5-6” panicles full of tiny flowers, giving a shimmering effect when blown around in the wind.
Provide well-draining soil and top dress with a little well-aged compost in the spring for fertility. It doesn’t demand much in terms of amendments and is drought-resistant.
Pull up any suckers or ‘minis’ in the spring to keep this plant from spreading. Pot and gift them to a friend, or expand your Russian sage plot.
Compact Varieties
Compact varieties may grow more densely and uniformly, growing just 18-36 inches tall and 2-3 feet wide.
‘Peek-A-Blue®’
‘Peek-a-Blue®’ brings a formal flair of color effortlessly and is low maintenance.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Peek-A-Blue®’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Recognized for its uniformity and hardiness, select ‘Peek-A-Blue®’ if your garden needs a formal pop of color. It was specifically bred to be stout and compact, perfect for growers with small gardening spaces.
It grows fast and requires very little attention, so it’s great for beginners and master gardeners alike. Pair it with ornamental grasses for a whimsical garden effect or in containers near your porch.
Native to Central Asia, Russian sage does well in rocky, sloped, and soils with less than great fertility. The main thing to remember is it needs well-draining soil as it will underperform or die in soggy, wet conditions.
‘Lacey Blue’
‘Lacey Blue’ thrives in solo or en-masse and requires trimming in spring.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Lacey Blue’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 12-18 inches |
| | hardiness zones 4-10 |
This dwarf variety is perfect as a stand-alone statement piece or planted in mass. It also does well in containers; its old-timey grayish-green foliage lends itself well to a cottage garden. Bred to be sturdy without flopping over, it’s also extremely deer-resistant.
‘Lacey Blue’ should be trimmed down to just a few inches in the spring. This will encourage heavy, dense summer growth with blooms lasting until the fall.
Remember to split your plant every 3-5 years to keep its performance tip-top. Also, don’t forget to heavily prune in late winter or spring so your Russian sage remains healthy for what could be a 20+ year life!
‘Blue Jean Baby’
‘Blue Jean Baby,’ an early and consistent bloomer with dark violet flowers, appeals to growers globally.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Blue Jean Baby’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
A showy variety, ‘Blue Jean Baby’ features dark violet flowers and is early to bloom. With a wide range of hardiness, it’s a great option for growers across the globe. Just be sure to keep the soil well-draining to keep her happy.
These plants are consistently productive, shaped, and sized each season, and this variety holds onto its colored calyx well into fall. Enjoy it long after its bloom time has passed by, sometimes into October.
If you’re going for garden drama, try pairing ‘Blue Jean Baby’ with scarlet bee balm, coneflower, or bold-colored asters.
‘Little Spire’
The ‘Little Spire’ variety is distinct for its gray-green foliage and minty aroma.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 18-24 inches |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Little Spire’ is stunning with gray-green foliage and almost glittery stems. Their foliage is slightly aromatic, making it a lovely option to plant near an outdoor seating area.
Space other plants about two feet away as she spreads out. To keep ‘Little Spire’ aesthetically pleasing, prune it back to about a foot tall each spring.
Try planting this compact cultivar along a walking path or adding it to a rock garden where passersby can enjoy its minty aroma.
‘Rocketman’
‘Rocketman’ is aromatic with bug-repelling qualities, easy to care for, and perfect to create contrasts.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Rocketman’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2.5-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Like ‘Little Spire,’ ‘Rocketman’’s grayish foliage is aromatic and may help repel mosquitoes. Add a unique flare to a fire pit area by planting it nearby and reap the bug-repelling benefits.
When transplanting, bury the rootball just to the plant’s crown so it can breathe when buried with soil. Water it well upon transplant and until it becomes established. After the first year, not much irrigation is needed.
Mix in pinks and yellows to create tropical vibes by growing ‘Rocketman’ alongside phlox or rudbeckia for a nice contrast.
‘Little Lace™’
With pale lavender blooms, ‘Little Lace’ complements vibrant flowers and attracts pollinators, but is deer-resistant.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Lace™’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 18-24 inches |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
‘Little Lace’ has well-spaced-out flowers, giving it a light and airy effect. Its delicate features and light lavender shade pair well with bright pink or salmon zinnias, rudbeckia, and red and magenta Dianthus. This compact cultivar can be grown in containers and does well in mass plantings.
Russian sage offers easy-to-access food for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds but isn’t as palatable as some other garden goodies to deer, so you’re safe there.
Dry gardening or growing in a hot, dry climate? Russian sage is perfect for you as it thrives in drought conditions and needs little when it comes to fertilizer or watering. However, it doesn’t love humid environments.
‘Sage Advice’
‘Sage Advice’ is cold-hardy and sturdy, with dark purple blooms, and is an option for dried bouquets.
| | botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Sage Advice’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2.5-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Blooming in mid-summer and extremely cold-hardy, ‘Sage Advice’ is a favorite among landscapers. Its purple shade is darker than most, making a statement along borders, in mass plantings, or in a cottage garden.
This variety is known for its sturdiness, so you won’t need to worry about supporting it. It’s similar to ‘Denim n Lace’ in look with darker calyxes and broader leaves.
‘Sage Advice’ can be cut, dried, or displayed as a fragrant, wild-looking bouquet. Enjoy the plant through the fall, cutting it back in the spring to above the lowest bud present.
Key Takeaways
- For a lacy effect, choose ‘Denim ’n Lace,’ PEEK-A-BLUE®,’ or ‘Filigran’ for their dissected foliage.
- Compact varieties can be grown in containers, mass plantings, foundation gardens, borders, cottage gardens, or perennial patches.
- Russian sage, by nature, is deer-resistant and mostly disease-resistant.
- Pollinators love Russian sage due to the large amount and shape of the flowers.
- Well-draining soil is key to its survival.
- It’s low-maintenance, thrives in hot, dry climates, and should be pruned annually.
Final Thoughts
Russian sage is loved for its carefree nature, requiring little attention, thrives in hot, dry climates, and even performs well in poor soil. Plant these Russian sage varieties in a sunny place, then sit back and delight in their charm.
