Russian Sage is a wispy plant, so it looks great planted alongside another flower that can pick up the violet-blue of its numerous flower panicles and “grow through it,” like coneflower (Echinacea spp.), globe thistle (Echinops ritro), or tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis). The tall tawny grasses maiden grass (Miscanthus spp.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), as well as the sharp vertical lines of “Karl Foerster” feather reed grass, look stunning in combination with it (Calamagrostis x acutiflora).
Consider placing Russian sage along a walkway as a “hedge,” especially in a gravel garden where its color contrasts stunningly with the camel-colored pea gravel found there. Russian sage loves to spread its long arms out in the garden, so make sure to leave enough of room for growth.
Additional Uses: Russian sage’s scented foliage and blooms have a relaxing effect on the nervous system. In traditional medicine, it is applied topically to lower fevers and is also brewed into a tea.
Russian sage has several blossoms that attract bees, and because it attracts so many pollinators in the summer, it is a wonderful addition to a pollinator-friendly landscape. Russian sage is a fantastic choice for gardeners with oceanfront properties because it tolerates salt and does well in a variety of soil types.
What flowers complement sage well?
Sage is a beneficial companion plant that also keeps pests away. Sage attracts pollinators when allowed to bloom. Sage works well as a border for vegetable plots because it can develop into a bush.
- 1. Brassicas: Place sage in close proximity to plants in the cabbage family, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and kohlrabi. Brassicas are attacked by black flea beetles, cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, cabbage maggots, and cabbage moths, all of which are repelled by sage.
- Sage deters the carrot rust flies.
- 3. Strawberries: Sage can help ward off pests and improve the flavor of strawberries.
- 4. Tobacco plants benefit from sage’s ability to repel flea beetles and draw in helpful insects. Combine sage with cilantro or dill, both of which are spider mite repellent, if spider mites are your primary tomato pest. Calendula or borage can help tomatoes with tomato hornworm problems by repelling the pest without damaging the plant.
- Sage is one of the few herbs that grows well with rosemary, according to 5.Rosemary. For a spicy herb garden, consider planting sage and rosemary together.
What vegetation goes nicely with sage?
What other plants go well with sage? Of course there are those that were already discussed, but let’s go over a few more.
If you allow sage to flower, it can draw pollinators and other helpful insects. To get these advantages as well, it could be beneficial to grow extra sage plants and allow some of your plants to flower.
Brassicas
Brassicas thrive next to sage. Sage aids in warding off bugs whose odours harm brassicas.
Brassicas include, as examples:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- sprouts, Brussels
- Kohlrabi
Cabbage
If you have ever grown cabbage or other brassicas, you are all too familiar with the cabbage moth. If left untreated, they can damage a lot of plants by making tiny holes in the leaves. There are little green cabbage worms on the underside of the leaves, if you look closely.
Tomatoes
Sage is a helpful plant to grow with tomatoes since it can deter flea beetles and draw beneficial insects to your tomato plants.
However, basil is the ideal tomato companion plant, so include some of it as well if you’re also growing it!
Strawberries
Strawberries and sage not only pair nicely, but they also grow well together.
Sage can help deter slugs from your plants because strawberries are one of the plants that they adore.
What sages the Russian?
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.
What can I grow using Russian sage and denim?
Russian sage can be a beast in the landscape, happy to overgrow its neighbors and rule the roost, as anyone who has ever cultivated it will attest. We are therefore very happy to present to you this newer type, which is as polite as a Sunday school child. It stands tall all season without leaning on anyone and is just as floriferous as its cousins, if not more so. It only needs a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day and a small amount of water during dry spells. This perennial is the real “plant it and forget it” variety!
Find a place in your landscape that is somewhat dry and gets a lot of sun. You ought to sow some Russian sage there. Save your energy for more needed plants as a result of its strong constitution, which means it likes not to be pampered. This one can stand up to the wind, salt spray, thirst, sun, and heat on its own.
Know that this perennial will not enjoy the extra step if you like to add compost and other nutrient-rich substances to the soil before planting. It will actually thrive in less fertile soils with lower levels of organic matter. The only prerequisite is that the soil be well-drained; alkaline soil is preferred. The roots of this plant don’t like to be moist for a long time, especially in the winter.
Pick an area that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunshine per day. Even in warm climates, Russian sage does not require any shade. It may stretch and lean due to excessive shade, moisture, or rich soil.
Russian sage should be planted in the spring to give it time to build its extensive, woody root system before the onset of winter. If planting later in the season, mulch the plant’s base with two to three layers to protect the roots during the first growing season.
When you pull the plant out of the pot, if the roots are tightly round one other, loosen them up a little to disrupt the “root memory.” By doing this, they will be encouraged to expand rather than keep growing in a circle.
Make sure the rootball of the plant is level with the top of the surrounding dirt before placing it in the hole. After that, re-fill the hole with the removed soil. To get rid of any significant air pockets around the roots, firmly press it down with your hand.
To help the dirt settle, water the plant one last time. It will require a little more water during the first season as it establishes itself than it will in following years. As soon as the plant’s roots are established, it will be able to seek out the moisture it needs from the soil, becoming independent.
Russian sage requires very little maintenance once it has been planted in the proper location. This perennial really requires little maintenance.
The most crucial thing to keep in mind when caring for this plant is not to spoil it. It can die from excessive feeding or watering. Your plant is either receiving too many nutrients, insufficient sunlight, or excessive water if it is yellowing, stretching, or flopping.
Watch the buds on its woody stems begin to swell in the spring. It’s time to prune when it’s clear which portions of the plant are exhibiting new growth and which aren’t. Cut the stems back to the first green bud if no new leaves appear close to the tops of the stems. If a stem isn’t exhibiting any new growth, it can be totally cut out.
Every spring, put a layer of compost around the base of the plant if you garden in thick clay soil and wish to keep the soil texture improving. When adding the additional soil, be careful not to bury the crown. No more plant food is required because it will supply all the nutrients the season will need.
Leave your Russian sage plant standing in the fall (don’t cut it back), and when the new growth comes in the spring, prune as mentioned above.
Russian sage is rarely bothered by pests, including deer, due to its fragrant foliage and woody stems.
When choosing what to plant alongside your new Russian sage, start by looking for plants that benefit from comparable growing circumstances.
Specifically, vegetation that favors full sunlight, low moisture content, and lean soil.
You could opt to plant ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ alongside perennials that bloom sooner, like ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ catmint, ‘Color Spires’ salvia, or ‘Midnight Masquerade’ penstemon because it flowers from July to early fall. They will add color early in the growing season and look lovely against the Russian sage’s silvery-green foliage.
Plant “Denim ‘n Lace” alongside other perennials that bloom at the same time, such as Color CodedTM coneflowers, PyromaniaTM red hot pokers, and Rock ‘n Grow sedums, to provide a burst of color all at once.
Plant something taller and of a different color behind ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ to truly let the sky blue blossoms stand out. Russian sage looks particularly lovely with colors like yellow and purple. It might pair well with the Summer Wine ninebark, Kodiak Black diervilla, or Sunshine Blue II bluebeard, which has gold-leaved plants.
top 3 reasons to grow
Beginning in July, this perennial blooms prettily nonstop for months with hardly any maintenance.
Pollinating bees and perhaps a few hummingbirds stop by these flowers for a lunchtime snack almost every day.
‘Denim ‘n Lace’ won’t flop upon its neighbors or take up too much space in the yard, unlike earlier Russian sages.
Love the way “Denim ‘n Lace” Perovskia sparkles? Shop online or at your neighborhood garden center to find it.
What must not be planted near sage?
SAGE: To ward off cabbage moths, beetles, black flea beetles, and carrot flies, grow it as a companion plant with broccoli, cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage, and carrots. Avoid planting near rue, onions, or cucumbers. Black flea beetles and cabbage moths are repelled by sage.
Which grasses complement Russian sage?
- 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.
Are sage and lavender compatible plant partners?
Sage. In most areas, sage is a hardy perennial plant that you can cut and use well into late fall. But it also bears stunning, pollinator-favored pink or purple early summer flowers. Due to its exceptional drought tolerance, it goes well with lavender, which enjoys the heat.
Does sage and lavender coexist?
The fundamental characteristics of ordinary daisies, which we all know and adore, also apply to African daisies. They are more distinctive nevertheless, with vivid colour that nearly seems hand-dyed (some types are even bi-colored).
They are excellent lavender companion plants because they both thrive in similar environments and need minimal maintenance (USDA 9–11). They require full sun, drained soil, and weekly irrigation.
While lavender is out of season, this lovely flower grows all through spring, summer, and fall, keeping your landscape vibrant. With this straightforward yet beautiful companion plant for your lavender, you can’t go wrong.
Zinnia
Zinnias are a genuinely hardy annual to take into account. There is a wide variety of flower hues available in zinnias. You can be sure that they will complement your lavenders beautifully whether you choose pink, white, red, or lavender purple.
Additionally, they will flourish in addition to lavender. You can be certain that zinnias will make an excellent partner for your lavender because they don’t mind humidity or heat, love full sun, and prefer soil that is on the dry side.
Gaillardia
Another daisy-like flower that will look fantastic in your yard with lavender is the gaillardia, sometimes referred to as the blanket flower. The subtle lavender hues are given life by the burnt reds, oranges, and yellows of these blooms, producing an intriguing color spectrum in your landscape.
They enjoy full sunlight and don’t care too much about the type of soil as long as it drains correctly. Adding gaillardias to your lavender beds won’t disappoint because they bloom every year during the summer and fall.
Rosemary
Lavender and rosemary are another traditional duo. Both have roots in the Mediterranean’s rocky hillsides and thrive in warm conditions. Rosemary is one of your greatest selections if you want to expand your herb garden, which currently has established lavender.
This herb requires the same amount of sunlight and water as lavender and thrives best in Zones 9 to 11. For the benefit of the rest of your garden, both can be planted together as a pair of companion plants. While repelling rabbits and deer, rosemary and lavender also draw a variety of pollinators.
Keep in mind that rosemary is less cold-tolerant than lavender, so you might need another plant if you live in a cooler climate.
Thyme
Thyme is your best bet if you want something cold-resistant. Similar to lavender and rosemary, it is a Mediterranean native that does well in hot, sandy soil. It is less sensitive to climate than rosemary because its hardiness zones range from 5 to 9.
When the first frost occurs, the plant goes dormant, but if you can protect it, thyme can survive the winter. Thyme thrives when planted close to lavender, enjoying the full sun and the occasional watering, if winter weather is not an issue.
Their aesthetics also mesh well together. With its softer purple blossoms, thyme produces a sweet ground cover plant that would look lovely next to your lavender field.
Sage
Another herb that does well in the conditions that lavender does is sage. Sage will grow well in hot regions, sandy, well-draining soil, with little water or care, regardless of the variety.
Zones 5-11 are ideal for growing sage. Planting thyme, sage, and lavender together is a terrific idea, especially in pots or containers. This plant can be used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. And it looks great when used as a decorative border plant.
Oregano
It’s crucial to add more flavor to your life. Adding multipurpose plants and herbs to your garden is another example. Planting oregano provides you with two advantages.
This delightful herb not only pairs well with lavender but a range of other plants, in addition to being great in the cuisine. Oregano is a low-maintenance plant that works well as an edging or ground cover. Although it prefers the sun and performs well in light shade, it also does well in dry soil.
Oregano is the solution if lavender isn’t luring as many bees as you’d want. Lavender and oregano are excellent companion plants for your garden, regardless of your requirements or goals.