Russian sage
Salvia yangii
Russian sage (Salvia yangii) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Front Range xeric staple. Lavender-blue haze of bloom from July through frost. Renamed from Perovskia atriplicifolia in 2017.
low water2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Salvia yangii
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Little Spire', 'Filigran', 'Denim 'n Lace'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- blue, purple
- Bloom time
- mid summer, late summer, early fall
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- hellstrip, south wall
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer; minimal after. Cut to ~6 inches in early spring — blooms on new wood.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Russian sage good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Russian sage is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Russian sage get?
- It matures to about 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide.
- How much water does Russian sage need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Russian sage native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
