How to Take Care of Russian Sages

Russian sage, or Perovskia, is native to Afghanistan and Tibet. The plant has delicate lacy leaves and blue flowers that bloom from July into October. It prefers areas of the country with hot, dry summers. Russian sage does not do well in humid areas such as the Southern part of the United States. It is easy to take care of Russian sages because they are drought, disease and pest resistant.

Things You'll Need

• Sand
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Plant Russian sage in well drained, sandy soil. Amend the soil with a 2 or 3 hand fulls of sand if the soil retains moisture too well.

2. Water well the first 1 to 2 weeks after planting until the plant becomes established. Water lightly once a week in drought conditions.

3. Grow in an area of your garden that receives full sun. The plant will become weak and floppy if it does not receive enough light.

4. Prune the plants down to 6 inches in the spring once they begin growing again. This encourages new growth and increased blooms.

Tips & Warnings

• Russian sage can be used to attract bees to your garden to speed pollination of other plants. The plant grows to 3 to 4 feet tall, making it good for borders.

• Russian sage self seeds and can take over areas of a garden if seedlings are not removed.

References

• Flower gardening made easy.