Perovskia atriplicifolia
Common name: Russian sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia is a tough plant that can survive harsh conditions. In 2017 it was renamed Salvia yangii. It is a heat-loving and drought-tolerant plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae). P. atriplicifolia is a deciduous subshrub with an upright habit. Subshrubs have woody stems, but their top growth is herbaceous.
Perovskia atriplicifolia's common name is Russian sage, but this subshrub is neither Russian nor a sage. It is native to southwestern and central Asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Tibet). It may have been called sage because its foliage smells sage-like when crushed. Russian sage has been in cultivation since the mid 1800s.
P. atriplicifolia spreads by underground rhizomes or by self-seeding. If new plants are not wanted they can easily be pulled up. P. atriplicifolia needs full sun to perform its best. In full sun it will produce lots of flowers and have sturdy stems that don't flop over. Russian sage has tiny, purplish-blue, tubular flowers which are arrange in whorls. These flowers are rich in nectar and pollen and are attractive to bees and other pollinators. The lacy, grayish-green leaves of Russian sage lay along square silvery-gray stems. They are fragrant, and are avoided by deer because they find the smell distasteful.
Russian sage has been used as a medicinal herb to treat illnesses such as dysentery, diabetes, and fevers. The flowers are edible, and can be used as a garnish. If you are wondering where the genus name Perovskia came from, the Russian botanist Karelin named the plant to honour B. A. Perovski, a 19th Century Russian general and statesman.
The photos of Perovskia atriplicifolia were taken in Bed 55 in the Heritage Rose Garden in the summer of 2024.
P. S. The cultivar Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Blue Jean Baby', which is considered to be more compact and resistant to flopping, can be found in Bed 9.
Text and photos by Kumi Sutcliffe