With Russian sage, you can’t go wrong. Small, lavender-colored blooms cover this low-maintenance perennial from July through early October. The Russian sage’s gorgeous blue-green foliage is a lovely complement to any sunny border even when it is not in flower. This perennial flower is simple to maintain and attracts butterflies, who enjoy eating on its abundant blossoms. Russian sage is resistant to both drought and deer. These robust plants reach heights of 2 to 4 feet. Hardy in zones 5 through 9.
Note: Due to a reclassification by botanists, this plant may also go by the name Salvia yangii.
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Russian Sage Growing Instructions
Russian sage should be planted in a sunny area with well-drained soil. This hardy perennial can withstand a variety of situations, however it does not like to grow in moist soil. Russian sage can be a little late to emerge from dormancy in the spring in more northern regions of its habitat. Before assuming the plant is dead, exercise patience.
Don’t be deceived by the label “Russian sage.” It is not advised for humans or animals to consume this plant because it is not a true sage.
The greatest places to grow Russian sage?
By including Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) in the mix, your perennial gardens will attract attention. The silver-white stems and cloud of purple blooms on top of the drought-tolerant perennial’s grey-green leaves adorn the summer and fall garden. From summertime through fall frost, it is beautiful.
Its square stems and scented crushed leaves, like those of many of its cousins, are characteristics of the mint family. It is not a type of sage, despite its name.
In USDA zones 5 to 9, Russian sage is simple to grow and cold hardy. It thrives in warm regions and can handle clay or average soils as long as the drainage is excellent. However, in order to produce an abundance of flowers and strong stems that won’t topple over as they get bigger, they need full light.
Russian sage has previously won the Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year Award for its easy care and spectacular, tubular blossoms.
Can sage be found in Florida?
What herbs grow best in Central Florida? From Florida’s Silver Springs, Sherry, with a query.
In Florida, you can successfully produce ordinary herbs that enjoy the heat. These include thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, lavender, and basil. The only possible qualification is that these common plants are from the Mediterranean and dislike a lot of wetness. Because elevated beds or containers have a tendency to drain more quickly, I would put them there. For optimal results, pick a fast-draining garden soil like Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Mix. These common perennial plants need calm or cold winters to flourish for years, which is another crucial consideration. As a result, you will need to plant new seeds a little more frequently.
Although it is planted as an annual, basil (Ocimum basilicum) may endure mild winters for a number of years. One of the best herbs for growing in the South is this one. (View the video below to learn how to cultivate basil in containers.)
Oregano
Give oregano (Origanum vulgare, USDA Hardiness Zones 4-10) space to grow because it prefers full sun and has low, spreading stems that root. I advise using a low, broad pot.
Thyme
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris, USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9) is a widespread herb in Europe that has aromatic, evergreen leaves and a low, spreading habit. It needs a sunny location and well-drained soil.
Sage
Salvia officinalis, a hardy shrubby perennial with USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, has savory leathery, gray, evergreen leaves. In the summer, it bears lovely lavender-blue flowers that are both edible and beneficial to pollinators. Give it a lot of sunlight and drained soil.
About Jessie Keith
Jessie sees the world through plants since they are self-sustaining. (“They take care of our needs for food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. They create the oxygen we breathe and even our attractive scent.) She holds degrees in horticulture and plant biology from Purdue and Michigan State Universities and works as a garden writer and photographer. Internships at Longwood Gardens and the American Horticultural Society helped her degrees. Since then, she has worked for numerous horticultural organizations and businesses, and she currently oversees communications for Sun Gro Horticulture, Black Gold’s parent firm. She enjoys showing her two girls everything beautiful and green.
What species of sage is native to Florida?
There are typically three native Salvia species accessible for Florida gardeners. The most widely distributed kind of sage is scarlet or tropical sage (Salvia coccinea), which grows in moist, well-drained soils across the state (with the exception of the Keys).
Does Russian sage return annually?
Russian sage is a member of the subshrub family of plants. Every year, new growth emerges from a woody base; the new growth is what blooms. Early in the spring, remove the old growth, which often withers away in the winter. The height and width of a plant are each 3 to 4 feet.
This plant is worthy of a garden just based on its delicately divided, aromatic, soft-textured leaf. The Russian sage blooms throughout the summer, and over a lengthy period of around 15 weeks, the plant produces a cloud of lavender flowers.
Mosquitoes are repelled by Russian sage.
WMBF-CONWAY, SC – Don’t use too much bug spray if you’re having a party on the patio over Memorial Day weekend.
Many of the plants that might deter mosquitoes are currently highly popular at Conway’s Plants Direct Nursery.
The nursery’s proprietor, Randy Gaskins, recommended ten plants to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Initially, wax myrtle. When the leaves are brushed together, the plant emits a faintly fragrant smell.
Because it’s a native, Gaskins added, it’s very affordable to use as mosquito control in the area. The plant thrives in pots and can be used as a hedge in the front or back yards.
Rosemary, second. This plant is well recognized for giving any dish made at home taste, but it can also keep insects away.
It’s a terrific container plant, so Gaskins advised using pots of it around your patio where guests would be congregating for a party.
Bee Balm comes next. Bees might be drawn to it, but not mosquitoes. The plant has several distinct hues and a lovely, fragrant blossom. Gaskins claimed that it also functions as a repellant.
Society Another repellant is garlic. It smells like garlic, as the name would imply, and deters insects as a result.
Although Lemon Verbena and Russian Sage are both used in cooking, mosquitoes are deterred by their different aromas.
Lavender is likewise well-liked, particularly inside, but according to Gaskins, it also acts as a repellant.
According to Gaskins, the Dusty Miller plant has attractive foliage color that aids in mosquito repulsion.
The most well-known and productive plant, according to Gaskins, is citronella. Rub the leaves together, and the fragrance is exactly like a citronella candle.
According to Gaskins, the better it dissipates the stench the more you rub it and someone brushes against it. “The plant looks excellent in a pot outside or planted by a deck, patio, or backyard.
Gaskins advised people to get rid of pots, buckets, and anything else holding standing water to prevent mosquitoes. He continued, “It negates the purpose of having plants that repel mosquitoes.”
Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.).
Mums are by far one of the most well-liked fall flowers, despite being considered somewhat harmful to dogs, cats, and horses. If ingested, these animals may exhibit dermatitis, hypersalivation, incoordination, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum).
Red maple trees are frequently at their most colorful and stunning in the autumn, but horses are not supposed to eat their leaves. After consuming red maple leaves, especially wilted ones, a horse may have a variety of symptoms, including the destruction of red blood cells (anemia), weakness, dark urine, breathing difficulties, abortion, and death.
Ginkgo Trees (Ginkgo biloba).
Thankfully, male gingko trees are not poisonous to pets because they have beautiful yellow fall foliage that many people like. However, ginkgotoxin, a methylpyridoxine, is present in the seed of the female tree and is poisonous to animals. Animals that consume it may vomit, get agitated, or experience convulsions. Dogs might bring the unfavorable fragrance into your home if they roll on the fruit because female gingko tree seeds are poisonous and also have a foul odor. Both dangers can be avoided by selecting a male gingko tree for your yard.
Rayless Goldenrod (Haplopappus heterophyllus).
This gorgeous shade of yellow is safe for cats and dogs, but it is poisonous to horses.
Horses can experience clinical consequences that are fatal if they consume one to ten percent of their body weight in the plant. Coordination problems, muscle tremors and weakness, an increased heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, fluid buildup and swelling of the neurological system, excessive perspiration, and difficulty swallowing are just a few of the symptoms that can appear after two to three weeks.
Sage can be grown in Florida, but how?
One of the traditional herbs that cooks use to season turkey and other fowl is sage. Sage can be purchased fresh or dried at your local grocery store, but it’s also simple to cultivate your own.
Sage can be started from seeds or cuttings at any time from fall to spring, but purchasing transplants from your neighborhood garden center is the fastest method to get started. Select a location that receives lots of sunlight, and don’t forget to water the plant as needed. Your sage will develop into a semi-woody perennial that grows to a height of 12 to 18 inches as it gets older.
Sage’s tiny, silvery leaves offer a lovely backdrop for other plants, so you might even think about growing it in a landscaping bed rather than a vegetable or herb garden.
Is Florida home to tropical sage?
Some of our more indigenous flora lack the “zing” that many of our more exotic ones do. The tropical sage is one natural plant that does put on a show, though. This little Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM plant, also known as wild sage, fireweed, scarlet salvia, or scarlet sage, has a stunning red bloom that is not only decorative but also a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.
This native perennial plant, which is about two feet tall and two feet broad, develops uprightly into a shape that resembles a vase. very small—less than two inches On the stem, oppositely positioned leaves with a light covering of hair and serrations. At the end of the stalks, one-inch-long, tubular crimson flowers appear. They are arranged in a whorled arrangement. Hummingbirds, as well as butterflies and other different pollinators, are naturally drawn to the color and the abundance of nectar. For the most dramatic appearance, tropical sage should be grown in patches in full sun and well-drained soil. Keep tropical sage away from salty environments as it cannot tolerate salt. Plants placed one at a time, spaced roughly 18 inches apart, will swiftly fill a planting bed. A almost constant bloom can be achieved by routinely removing old flowers. In fact, trimming back plants that are looking a little raggedy will encourage a fresh burst of growth and flowers. Tropical sage does well in containers and as a border plant in addition to bulk planting. From the seeds produced during the year, numerous stray plants will grow. These could become overcrowded and need to be thinned out. The plants can also be multiplied by division or rooted cuttings in addition to seeds.
The potential for new cultivars is one of the coolest aspects of plants under cultivation. These varieties of tropical sage have been created, and many are now offered commercially to gardeners. More scarlet red blooms from an enhanced cultivar known as “Lady in Red” were discovered to be produced. ‘Coral Nymph,’ sometimes known as ‘Cherry Blossom,’ features pink and white flowers on conspicuously small plants. The cultivars “Summer Jewel Pink” and “Summer Jewel Red” are two more compact varieties. A stunningly distinct kind known as the “Snow Nymph” is all-white and can reach heights of two feet.
Does Florida have purple sage?
Salvias are a staple of any garden in Southwest Florida. They can resist the heat and sun of our summer and come in a variety of hues, including red, blue, yellow, pink, and purple.
Salvias are available virtually everywhere, but the pleasure is in finding the less common and uncommon varieties. I’m constantly looking for something a little unique.
Take a walk occasionally. Within the species, there are 800 to 900 different varieties of salvias, which might be annuals, biennials, or perennials. These plants are absolutely beloved by butterflies, southern Florida’s ruby-throated hummingbirds love the winter variations, and bees love them to death.
The monarch butterflies on the west coast rely heavily on salvias to feed them both during their migration to Mexico in the fall and upon their return in the spring.
For plants to bloom continuously, deadheading is essential. When a stem is past its prime, it should be removed (cut to the ground). Your garden will have more flowers and better-looking plants as a result of taking these two steps.
Southern Florida is home to a wide variety of salvia species, but I’ll only mention a few of my favorites here.
Mexican Sage, also known as Salvia leucantha, has purple flowers and silver weeping stems that thrive in the Florida sun. We only discovered some with pinkish-white flowers this year, which is pretty unusual.
Salvia with hot lips has a white body and brilliant red lips. This bushy salvia has fragrant leaves and flowers.
With cobalt blue blossoms and a deeper, nearly black tint, black and blue salvia is simply stunning. It is a show stopper and is also referred to as Salvia guaranitica. Hummingbirds adore this plant as well.
A new hybrid Salvia called “Wendy’s Wish” entered the gardening world a few years ago. It has a significant blooming period from spring through fall. A small blooming shrub with magenta pink blooms and dark green leaves.
All Salvias may be grown in pots, which gives them a lot of versatility in the summer gardens of southern Florida, where the livin’ is simple. There are other additional salvia species with heights ranging from one to four feet and a wide range of hues. It’s fun to go out and see how many different species you can locate.
Plant milkweed to conserve the monarch butterfly and continue to see butterflies!