Russian sage, also known as the Monrovia plant, is now classified as Salvia yangii (it was formerly given the botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia). It is not an herb used in cooking, although its flowers are edible (not the leaves). However, in North American gardens, it’s absolutely an ornamental, and a popular one. It’s mainly about the looks, but there are some other advantages that make this pretty plant a very fine option to include in anyone’s landscaping plan.
5 Reasons Russian Sage Is a Popular Choice for Gardens
1. This Salvia Is a Beautifully Attractive Plant
This sage plant is a gorgeous, showy shrub that will bloom in the warm months and into fall in most places it is planted, giving gardens a spray of purple beauty from summer and on toward Halloween when it can hand the baton over to other color schemes. The plant spreads its spikes out in a feathery, airy display that adds an almost fairyland quality to the landscaping. The purple sprays really draw the eye and look rather dramatic.
2. It’s Quite Hardy in Most Zones of Cultivation
Luckily, this type of sage is happy to grow in a wide range of hardiness zones, from 4 through 9 in the United States. Wherever there is full sun available, the plant doesn’t generally mind the cold or the heat, though if your area experiences temperature extremes, you may need to check on which cultivars are best suited to those. You are still likely to be able to offer these violet beauties. Ask your wholesale landscape supply for details.
3. Perennials Are a Great Value
Perennial plants are a landscaping friend in this busy world. It’s nice to be able to see the site renewed for another year with the prettiest blooms that don’t need annual replacement. The plantings can be planned to shade their bloom times into each other across the year so they continue to look great, and that means happy garden owners. In place, this plant can last around 4 to 6 years, although dividing and replanting can renew its growing life.
4. This Purple Plant Attracts Birds and Bees
With today’s greater interest in gardens that work with nature and support local fauna, a planting that birds and insects love is a great choice. The spiked florets offer a haven for gatherers of nectar, whether they’re butterfiles, bees, or even hummingbirds. This gives the garden a shimmer of wildlife action to watch, bringing us all into closer harmony with the natural world and giving back to it, too. It’s becoming increasingly important to support our pollinators.
5. This Sage Plant Is Climate-Change Ready
Since drought is unfortunately on the upswing these days, a garden that tolerates drier times saves water use while looking amazing. After watering to allow roots to become established, this plant is ready to live nicely without much need for further hydration care. Easy upkeep and maintenance are always a big plus, since this saves everyone time as well as increasingly precious natural resources and costs. Paying attention to these issues is essential today.
Wherever this blue-violet beauty is planted, it draws appreciative looks during the warmer times of the year and into fall, producing pretty flower spikes that attract both the birds and the bees. It has a forgiving nature that allows it to be enjoyed throughout most of the continent’s hardiness zones, and it’s one of the easiest to care for, returning for some years without effort. As temperatures rise, this sage is a great choice that can stand up to changing conditions.
