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Russian Sage Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Russian Sage

Salvia yangii

Wisdom, healing, reflective beauty.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Salvia
Native to
Central Asia (Afghanistan, Tibet, Pakistan)
Bloom season
Mid To Late Summer
Type
subshrub
Height
60–150 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, lean to average
Water
Low; drought tolerant
Hardiness
4–9
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Russian sage isn't from Russia, and isn't a true sage — it was named after a 19th-century Russian general, Vasily Perovsky, who first brought it to attention.
  • It was reclassified from Perovskia to Salvia in 2017 based on DNA evidence, after over 100 years in its own genus.
  • Russian sage was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 1995 by the Perennial Plant Association.
  • The silvery aromatic foliage smells strongly of sage when crushed and is unappetizing to deer and rabbits.
  • Its airy lavender clouds can reach 1.5 m tall, creating a dreamy haze in late summer borders.

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Drought-tolerant gardens
  • Pollinator habitat