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Russian sage and lavender, two of the current competitors, share a lot in common, yet they are still two quite different plants. I always want to pick the best plant from the selection, like the most of you do, so that I don’t have to replace it later. Making the wrong decision will result in lost time and money.
Russian sage and lavender are mostly distinguished by the color of their blossoms. Unlike lavender flowers, which can be blue, purple, or even white, Russian sage blooms are blue with a faint hint of purple. Like lavender, Russian sage has bigger inflorescences.
Lavender also features tubular inflorescences with a well-liked aroma. On the other hand, Russian sage has inflorescences that resemble panicles and a distinctive smell.
Salvia yangii is the scientific name for the subshrub species known as Russian sage. It wasn’t always the case that this species belonged to the genus Salvia. Perovskia atriplicifolia, the former name for this plant, was once thought to be a different genius.
Asia is where Salvia yangii is most commonly found (China, Pakistan). Eastern Europe has a lower prevalence. It is a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in dry soil with full light in rocky and mountainous terrain.
On the other hand, lavender, whose scientific name is Lavandula, is a genius. When people refer to lavender, they typically mean one of the following three varieties:
- Angustifolia Lavandula (English lavender)
- the Lavender Stoechas (Spanish lavender)
- Laurel Dentata (French lavender)
There are actually a lot more varieties of lavender, but I’ll compare Russian sage to these three instead.
Lavender grows in southern Europe (Mediterranean). This is a sun-loving plant that appreciates well-drained soil, much like Russian sage.
Russian sage resembles lavender in appearance.
Russian sage perennially has lavender-purple flowers. These tall, airy flowers provide a lavender-blue color cloud.
Russian sage blooms from July until October, one month after Salvia.
Foliage & Branching Habits: Like Salvia, Russian Sage belongs to the mint family. It has square stems, opposite blue-green leaves, and a similar appearance. Rubbing Russian sage leaves releases a minty scent as well. With its fern-like foliage, Russian Sage sets itself apart from Salvia. It gets pretty tall and spreads out low before drooping heavily to the ground.
Size & Growth: Russian Sage matures to a height of about 3 feet and a width of at least 3 feet. It is a shrub-like plant with woody stems.
Russian sage can withstand drought and is insect and deer resistant. Their enticing aroma attracts pollinators. Russian Sage is a wonderful partner for succulents, ornamental grasses, butterfly bushes, and other perennials like cone flowers, milkweed, and bee balm since it enjoys the heat and summer sun. Early spring is the best time to prune Russian Sage.
How can I tell whether it’s Russian sage?
Perovskia atriplicifolia, often known as Russian sage, is a pretty plant with long, gray-green leaves and square, silvery-gray stems that blooms in late summer, creating an airy cloud of color. Along the length of the stems, the small, tubular, purple-blue flowers are grouped in whorls. The Perennial Shrub Association recognized this semi-woody plant Perennial Plant of the Year in 1995. It can be utilized in climates where lavender cannot be consistently grown because it superficially resembles lavender. Zones 4-9. This mint (Labiateae) family member is hardy.
Although the plant is neither native to Russia nor a sage, the genus was named by the Russian botanist Karelin around 1840 in honor of B. A. Perovski, the Turkestani governor of the Russian province of Orenburg (Salvia). Perovskia, which is pronounced “per-OFF-skee-uh,” is a plant that is indigenous to Tibet and Central Asia at heights up to 8,000 feet. The sage connection is most likely due to the distinctive scent released when the leaves are crushed. Since the mid-1800s, Russian sage has been grown.
Perovskia can be used in many different areas of the landscape, such as the front, back, or cottage garden. It pairs well with white- or yellow-flowered perennials and ornamental grasses, particularly white phlox, Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), and coreopsis. Other possible pairings include merging with other silver-leaved plants, adding contrast with red-leaved barberry or plants with dark green leaf. The environment has a nearly Mediterranean vibe to it thanks to the open architecture and silvery vegetation. It can also be used to separate stronger hues or as a filler plant. Use it as a specimen in small spaces, in vast spaces in order to increase its presence, or as a divider hedge in a long, wide row. Varieties
Perovskia comes in seven different species, although P. atriplicifolia is the only one that is frequently found in stores. Plants advertised as this species may actually be hybrids of P. atriplicifolia and P. abrotanoides due to some confusion in the nursery trade. The plant, which reaches heights of 3 to 4 feet, has delicate, fragrant, gray-green leaves and gray-white stems, as well as lavender blue blooms that bloom all summer long. It can withstand drought fairly well. Bees and other insects are drawn to the blossoms. Plants grown from seed are typically inferior than cultivars.
How does lavender sage appear?
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the Lamiaceae family, with around 1000 species. Some salvias are herbaceous perennials that are related to the mint family, like lavender.
One plant that resembles lavender is Salvia officinalis, also known as common sage, which has blue-purple blooms and grey foliage.
This Mediterranean native sage, like lavender, has a wide range of culinary and therapeutic use. Even a plant whose medical usefulness has a lengthy history is referred to as “Officinalis.”
The Salvia lavandulifolia plant, so named for its resemblance to lavender, is possibly the most comparable. This salvia is small, with summertime blue blooms, and slender, grayish-green leaves.
Different varieties feature different-sized, colored, and shaped leaves, as well as blooms that range from deep purple to white and lavender to pink. Some people can withstand the cold and frost, while others enjoy the heat of a tropical climate.
Growing tips
Select a sunny location in a soil that drains well and has been improved with organic material like compost. They can withstand heat and drought after becoming established. Deadheading and regular feeding will improve their appearance.
Allow them to set seed at the conclusion of the growing season and remove any woody stalks. Every few years, divide in the spring before the new growth starts. Apply a generous coating of compost on top of them as well to get them ready for spring.
Are sage and lavender connected?
With around 7,000 species, the Lamiaceae, or mint family, is the sixth biggest among flowering plant families. The majority of the culinary herbs, such as basil, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary, as well as various plants like teak trees are included in this category together with lavender and the mints.
What distinguishes purple sage from regular sage?
actual facts. Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurea,’ a distinctively colored cousin of common sage, is the name given to it botanically. Purple sage, a member of the mint family, contains leaves that are packed with extremely scented volatile oils, making it useful for both culinary and therapeutic purposes.
Can I grow lavender and Russian sage together?
- Russian sage is a striking undiscovered cut flower that draws butterflies and bees.
- Perfectly complements other low-water plants like lavender, sedum, and ornamental grasses. It also gets along well with succulents with bold leaves like big agaves and aloes.
- In addition to xeriscapes, hillsides, and rock landscapes, Russian sage blends in with deer-frequented, Mediterranean-themed gardens.
What vegetation resembles Russian sage?
Actually, there are quite a few little shrubs or plants that resemble shrubs that have decorative qualities comparable to Russian Sage. Russian Sage and Blue Mist Spirea have very similar flowering cycles and colors.
Is Russian sage known by another name?
Salvia yangii is a blooming herbaceous perennial plant and subshrub that was once known as Perovskia atriplicifolia (/prvskitrplsfoli/) and is also referred to as Russian sage. Although it wasn’t once a part of Salvia, the genus that is often known as sage, it has been incorporated since 2017. [2] [3] It has an erect habit and normally grows to a height of 0.51.2 meters (1+124 feet). The gray-green leaves have square stalks and emit a peculiar odor when crushed. Its flowers are its best-known feature. Mid-summer to late October is when it blooms, with blue to violet blossoms arranged into opulent, branching panicles.
It grows naturally on the hills and steppes of southwest and central Asia. It has since gained popularity and been planted worldwide because it is successful in a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Numerous cultivars have been created, with the most popular being called “Blue Spire.” These cultivars vary mainly in leaf shape and overall height. This variant has been extensively used in landscaping and gardens. S. yangii was named 1995 Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association, and the cultivar “Blue Spire” was given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
In its native habitat, the species has a long history of usage in traditional medicine and is used to cure a wide range of illnesses. The examination of its phytochemistry has resulted from this. The plant has been investigated for potential application in the phytoremediation of contaminated soil. Its blossoms can be used in salads or crushed to make dye.
Reduce the amount of Russian sage?
Russian sage is a fuss-free perennial that adds color all season long and is drought resistant. With a modest 28- to 32-inch height, “Denim ‘n Lace” manages the towering and floppy growth of classic Russian sage. Plants that are fully colored resemble lavender. In Zones 4–9, hardy. Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ is its botanical name.
Pruning Russian sage requires courage. Russian sage pruning can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, your plants will become stronger and fuller and put up a more attractive flower display. Although taking tip cuttings may qualify as a pruning action by genuine botanists, pruning is not a part of the propagation of Russian sage.
Russian sage is normally pruned by the regular gardener at the beginning and end of the growth season. With its purple flower spires, Russian sage creates a purple haze in gardens starting in mid- to late summer. The silver-gray stems are encircled by whorls of the fuzzy blossoms, creating an intriguing sight. Plantings are given a great dramatic flair by foot-long flower heads. Pruning Russian sage in the spring properly paves the way for a stunning flower display.
Russian sage’s stems change from being green, soft, and succulent to having a woody component as it ages throughout the growing season. This kind of perennial flower is referred to by gardeners as a semi-woody perennial or shrubby perennial. Russian sage stems should be cut back to 18 inches at the end of the flowering season in cold climates, when the blooms have faded and a deadly frost has occurred. For a more interesting winter garden view, skip the pruning and leave the stems alone. In the coldest regions where Russian sage is hardy, it is good to leave stems in place. zone 4 and zone 5.
Stems freeze as winter approaches and subfreezing temperatures take hold. Depending on how cold it gets and how long it lasts, stems may or may not freeze to the point of death. Russian sage has two sites where new growth appears in the spring: the stems and the plant’s crown, which is where the stem tissue and roots converge. Typically, the crown is hardly visible above ground.
On Russian sage, a harsh winter may kill all of the aboveground stems, and only the crown produces new growth. Stems may only partially die back during milder winters. In this situation, the Russian sage would produce new growth from both the stems and the crown.
Snip stems back to 12 to 18 inches as springtime approaches. Leave 18 inches in place if you’re cleaning up your garden well before the last average frost date. Cut stems down to 12 inches or less if there is no longer any risk of frost.
Zones 4 to 9 are hardy for Russian sage. It might not die back significantly, if at all, throughout the winter in warmer areas. After the blossoms have faded and when winter has arrived, Russian sage should be pruned in regions with mild winters. If you don’t want to see stems throughout the winter, you can give them a severe pruning now, trimming them to a height of 6 to 12 inches. Otherwise, wait until very early spring or late winter to perform a rigorous pruning.
Pruning Russian sage right after after flowering in regions with lengthy growing seasons might encourage a second flush of bloom. Reduce plant growth by 50% to promote reblooming.
What does the lavender plant resemble?
A beautiful addition to borders and perennial gardens, lavender, a herb with numerous culinary uses, offers sweeping drifts of color from early summer to fall. Lavender is perfect for making informal hedges because of its compact shrub-like structure, upright flower spikes, and silvery-green foliage. It can also be harvested to make potpourri, sachets, and floral arrangements that are aromatic.
What are some uses for Russian sage?
Russian sage is a common garnish used in restaurants. The tiny purple blossoms are used by certain chefs in salads and desserts. They taste delicate and a little bit sweet. Russian sage leaves are not edible, in contrast to other sage types.
- Deer do not browse in Russian sage-heavy areas, according to the Colorado State University Extension.
- Additionally, the plant is highly regarded by organic gardeners as a powerful pest deterrent, particularly for cabbage worms.