Plant field guide
Russian Sage
Airy clouds of blue-lavender flowers on silvery aromatic stems. Months of color.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Salvia yangii
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Height
- 36 in (91 cm) – 60 in (152 cm)
- Spread
- 24 in (61 cm) – 48 in (122 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 4–9; average annual extreme minimum from -30°F (-34.4°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March, April.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Extremely drought tolerant. Full sun and good drainage essential.
Pruning
Cut back to 6-12 inches in early spring. New growth emerges from base. Do not prune in fall.
Fertilizer
None needed
Does not need fertilizer
Mulch
2 inches of gravel or light organic mulch.