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.
Is lavender a species of Russian sage?
These lovely blooms in this picture are not lavender, despite appearances. Perovskia Atriplicifolia, also referred to as Russian Sage and occasionally Lavender of Afghanistan, is the scientific name for this plant. These two plants not only share a second name with our favorite flower, but they also resemble one another and belong to the same family.
Indeed, this sage’s blossoms are a vibrant purple as well (and that’s what drew us!). Additionally, due to its long, narrow leaves, it has a similar foliage to lavender.
Sage has no use in perfumery because of its grassy and slightly spicy aroma.
lavender blue with color and covered in rough white hairs. These add to the overall floral show and are kept on the plant for a considerable amount of time.
Russian sage is worth cultivating for the silver-green leaves in addition to the flowers. The edges of the leaves can be serrated or wavy depending on the plant’s location, where the foliage is produced, and its variation. Rub or crush the Russian sage plant to release its strong fragrance from all sections. Some individuals say it smells like sage and occasionally includes lavender scents.
Does lavender have any ties to sage?
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.
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 distinguishes lavender from Russian sage?
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.
Plant This Not That: Russian Sage Edition
Late in the fall and early in the winter, it remained silvery-green.
Plants require less water after they are established.
A. canescens, A. fruiticosa, and Front Range.
Both are lovely plants for the landscape.
The taller of the two species is fruiticosa.
Once established, they use little water and can tolerate barren soil.
Is Russian sage fragrant?
In my yard, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is stunning. This deciduous perennial features silvery, blue-green foliage, spires of lovely bluish-purple flowers, and a crisp, sage-like aroma.
Plant in full sunlight. Plants grown in partial shade will be leggy and have fewer blooms. A typical, well-drained garden soil will do. pH of the soil is not a concern for Russian sage. It is fairly drought tolerant after receiving regular care for the first year. My Russian sages have thrived without any further fertilization and with mulches.
PRUNING: Pruning is necessary to keep plants producing their best flowers. To keep the plant healthy, prune it to a height of 10 inches about March 10. New growth produces the best blooms. Additionally, you will need to remove any subsurface runners. If they have roots, you can transfer them without much difficulty.
Cut the runner free from the mother plant once it has a strong root system, then relocate it.
Russian sage can grow anywhere from 2 to 5 feet tall and wide in the landscape, depending on the cultivar and the level of maintenance. Put it in a bed of pinks, yellows, and white flowers. Incorporate pink Malva, pinkish Sedum spectabile, soft yellow daylilies, white phlox, or yellow ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis into your garden. For added drama, choose sunflowers or the fiery orange of tiger lilies. Russian sage works best when planted in large quantities or in the middle or back of a bed. The plant does have some sprawl, so you can use it to spill over the top of a wall. Smaller cultivars, like “Little Spire,” work well as a border. Russian sage attracts butterflies and bees, so put it where you can enjoy it. From early summer through late summer, expect blossom.
Pests and illness have never come to visit my Russian sages. Deer are not known to be very interested in the plant.
IN THE KITCHEN: The flowers and foliage make lovely bouquets and have a fresh, herbal aroma that may perfume the whole house. I mince the leaves, which are delicious but strong, instead of using the full, sweet-tasting blooms in salads.
- Buy large potted plants because they could take longer to establish.
- Plant it at the same depth that you did in the pot.
- Seed propagation is slow, and the seedlings appear to be less resilient. I favor using runners with roots that have been transferred or designated cultivars in pots.
The 3-foot-tall, erect variety of “Blue Spire” features deeply lobed leaves and rich purple blooms.
The upright 2- to 3-foot spires of “Filigran” bear beautiful blue flowers and elegant, lacy foliage.
What flower has a lavender-like scent?
The Lavandin variety of lavender is the most fragrant (Lavandula x intermedia). The lovely aroma of a number of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) cultivars is also praised.
- Lavandula latifolia and Lavandula angustifolia were crossed to create Lavandula x intermedia, often known as Lavandin. Compared to L. angustifolia, cultivars are slightly less hardy, taller, and have mounds of gray foliage as well as long, loose spikes. Compared to English lavenders, they can withstand dry, hot weather better. Commercial cultivation of cultivars is done for their high oil production, which is, however, of lower caliber than that of L. angustifolia. This variety of lavender works well as accent plants, hedges, rock gardens, potpourri, and as a culinary herb. Typically, flowering takes place from mid to late summer.
- For many years, Lavandula angustifolia, often known as True Lavender or Common Lavender, has been grown for its premium lavender oil. The cultivars of this species typically have thin leaves that are grayish green, a compact habit, and relatively small spikes of flowers. This variety of lavender is excellent for mass plantings as well as formal or casual edging along walkways, raised wall beds, rock gardens, and herb gardens. Typically, flowering takes place from late spring until June.
What is the benefit of Russian sage?
People relied on homemade treatments for a range of maladies even before the fight over universal healthcare, insurance corporations, and Big Pharma. In actuality, numerous societies continue to successfully use plants and herbs for therapeutic purposes. You can utilize the herbs to treat your illnesses if you maintain a garden or have planter boxes where you can grow typical ornamental garden herbs. These herbs are a few to try:
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a perennial plant with purple blossoms that not only looks lovely in a garden but also provides a number of health advantages. Sage leaves can be used to make a medicinal tea that can aid with indigestion and stomach aches by steeping the leaves in boiling water for 15 to 30 minutes.
Russian sage tea can also be used to reduce fever. Herbalists advise letting the tea cool before soaking it up with a towel and applying it to the forehead as a compress. This practice has been proved to benefit persons who have fevers due to the sage essence being absorbed by the skin and the calming sensation of the perfume. Additionally, you can place the sage leaves right in boiling water and breathe in the fragrant steam to unclog nasal airways and relieve bronchial congestion brought on by colds and flus.
Wild Thyme
Similar to how sage was popularized by the Simon & Garfunkel song “Scarborough Fair” in 1968, thyme is an evergreen bush. Thyme has been utilized as a medicine for thousands of years, despite the fact that it may be used in cooking. Thyme is an antioxidant, promotes heart health and blood flow, and can be used as a natural cough suppressant. Tea and thyme essential oil have been shown to be effective in treating acute bronchitis, and thyme is a rich source of vitamins A and C, which support a healthy immune system. Thyme also contains antifungal characteristics, making it a natural disinfectant for areas with little to no mold growth. Simply combine some water and thyme essential oil in a spray bottle and mist mold with it.
Lavender
Similar to Russian sage, lavender is a purple flowering plant that gives any garden personality. The calming qualities of lavender are highly praised, and lavender essential oil is frequently used as a sleep aid. To unwind and help you relax before bed, try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to your pillow or bathwater. Lavender tea is a great choice for a nightcap because studies have shown that it has favorable impacts on mental health, such as reducing emotions of tension and worry. Lavender’s calming properties also make it the perfect remedy for soothing skin after being bitten by insects like spiders and mosquitoes. For rapid relief, simply break the lavender plant’s leaves and apply the oils onto the skin’s troubled area.
Peppermint
Another great plant to have in the garden is peppermint, which may give pastries a flavor boost. However, peppermint occasionally has the capacity to benefit your health. Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and upset stomach are both treated by peppermint. An anti-spasmodic found in peppermint, methanol is best effective when crushed up into a pill that is taken. In addition to calming an upset stomach, peppermint tea can strengthen your immune system.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm, a herb with a lemon smell and a member of the same plant family as mint, has long been utilized by herbalists to elevate mood and cognitive function. However, it can also help with insomnia and calm down an upset stomach, such as nausea. Making a cup of lemon balm tea before bed has been proved to help with sleep difficulties, especially in kids. Lemon balm in your garden for the evenings your grandchildren stay with you could be beneficial for everybody!
As you can see, popular garden herbs offer a variety of medical uses. However, before trying anything new, be sure the herb you want to plant and use is safe and doesn’t have any potential drawbacks by speaking with your doctor.
Author Hilary Young is committed to promoting better, more meaningful lifestyles for senior citizens in America.