Perovskia abrotanoides
Russian sage, Caspian perovskia
- Height × spread
- 0.8m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A rare and beautiful species that has finely dissected grey-green aromatic leaves and small blue-purple flowers massed onto the long slender flowering stems to give a lovely soft cloud of gentle colour. These appear in late summer and autumn. When they die the long stems, coloured grey, form an attractive and long-lasting feature. It is a drought-resistant shrub which is found growing from Afghanistan to the Western Himalayas. It grows both on the steppes and in deciduous forests where there is little moisture. This is hard-pruned in spring.
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Stem colour
- Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.8m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Herb garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Deer resistant, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune hard to the base
Prune back to within 30cm to 45cm of the plant base so that the year's growth will begin from this low framework. If you want the plant to grow larger, this need only be done every few years.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Found in
More Perovskia
Perovskia 'Blue Spire'
Azure sage
Perovskia Lacey Blue = 'Lisslitt'
Russian sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'
Russian sage, Azure sage
Perovskia
Russian sage
Perovskia 'Superba'
Russian sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Azure sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Bluesette'
Azure sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Crazy Blue'
Russian sage