Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! If sage is planted in the right place in the garden, it can spread over … Check out the root system on this Russian sage cutting in the picture below! Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a hardy, drought-resistant member of the mint family, though it grows with a slightly woody, shrub-like habit not unlike garden sage (Salvia officinalis). Soil . Russian sage can tend to flop, as the stems get long. Although Russian sage works well planted in a flower bed with mixed flowers, the plant is especially well suited to a rock garden or an area with poor, dry soil. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Sage (Salvia officinalis, Salvia elegans) Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris) Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Wormwood (Artemisia species) Subshrubs in Cold Climates. Saved by eHow. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years to encourage better flowering. It looks great when paired with ornamental grasses as well as white or yellow flowering perennials. Dividing and Transplanting: With its woody stems and static habit, Russian sage is not a candidate for dividing. Carefully dig around roots, starting one foot away from the plant base. Russian sage Very difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, Perovskia atriplicifolia purchase new plants Salvia Divide every 5 or 6 years or when plant dies out in the center Salviaspp. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. The long panicles of flowers become increasingly brilliant as they open. Propagate Russian sage plants by dividing the clumps or taking cuttings in spring. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. Light Needs. Be patient, because Russian sage can be slow to establish roots. var pid = mySplit[1]; I have two huge Russian sage plants that are now 4 years old. Place the plant in the hole so that it's level and sitting at its original growing depth. It does spread fairly vigorously by underground stems, as well as self-sowing, sending up new plants that could be dug up and moved elsewhere. After the first season, Russian sage tolerates drought and only needs to be watered occasionally during hot, dry weather. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years to encourage better flowering. It's better to take cuttings from shoots that emerge from the base of the plants in spring or early summer, or to just dig up the small offshoots that appear on the outside of established clumps. Russian sage works well in the middle or back border of a garden or landscape. Divide Russian sage clumps Every three-to-five years, it’s a good idea to divide Russian sage clumps. Lift the clump of Russian sage from the ground, and shake the plant gently to remove excess soil. $.get('/frogs/ajax/print_comment.php', { pid: data} ).done(function(foo) { (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); if ($(window).width() > 1024) { Once established, water occasionally; more in extreme … Yes, Russian Sage can be divided, but not now while it is blooming. Divide Russian sage clumps. } Not to be outdone by its flowers, the plant's stems and foliage make a strong statement of their own, perhaps even outstrippi… Water the Russian sage immediately, and keep the soil evenly moist for the first season. After dividing, replant pieces that are, at most, 20 to 25 percent of the original clump. It won't overpower your garden. You may need to add or … Proper spring Russian sage pruning prepares the way for a spectacular flower show. Dividing Russian Sage - Knowledgebase Question. How to Divide Russian Sage | Hunker. Divide the plant into two or three. Cut down the stems to approximately 6 to 8 inches high with garden trimmers. Foot-long flower heads infuse strong drama into plantings. Perennials multiply exponentially—one stem is likely to triple or quadruple itself each year. $("#"+thisid).html(foo); For a fool-proof woody perennial that performs like a dream year after year, try Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Denim 'n Lace' PP28445). Cut back Russian sage plants in the spring to create a less floppy, more compact plant. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a sturdy, drought-tolerate plant with attractive silvery-gray foliage. If you wish to propagate new plants, either take stem cuttings from shoots in spring or semi-ripe cuttings with a heel in summer; or look for little offsets at the base of the plant and using clippers and a trowel, remove them and replant. Russian sage is a beautiful perennial with small blue flowers that is neither Russian nor sage.Though it has the aroma of sage when the leaves are crushed, the plant is inedible and actually can be quite poisonous. In late summer, Russian sage will produce billowy clouds of tiny lavender flowers that bloom along the plant's long stems. Share it with your friends! Branches will turn into hardwood in the fall and those branches can be used to make cuttings over the winter. }); Russian sage likes hot sunlight, but will also do fine in climates with cold, freezing winters. It is a good plant for fall color in the garden, to use for dried or cut flowers, or to attract butterflies. Sep 28, 2015 - Russian sage is a 3 to 5-foot tall perennial with purplish blue flowers and silver foliage. Take cuttings in early summer for propagation by cutting a stem about 4 to 6 inches long, right below a leaf node. As for the other abandoned red plants (in bold above) perhaps utilizing the California fuchsia. Wait until it dies back a little bit and then divide, or wait until Spring. If the clump of Russian sage is large, separate a smaller section with the edge of your shovel, and leave the remainder of the Russian sage plant in the ground. Cut back Russian sage plants in the spring to create a less floppy, more compact plant. Dark green foliage also makes a great contrast and blends nicely … Perovskia atriplicifolia, commonly called Russian sage, is a woody-based perennial of the mint family which typically grows 2-4' (less frequently to 5') tall and features finely-dissected, aromatic (when crushed), gray-green leaves on stiff, upright, square stems and whorls of two-lipped, tubular, light blue flowers tiered in branched, terminal panicles (12-15" high). Also in the "picture of layout and actual" … Dividing or splitting a single perennial into multiple plants helps the plant perform better. New transplants need regular watering, but once … As … Dig a hole to accommodate your Russian sage and place it in the … Water Russian sage during times of extreme heat or drought. Soak the root ball in a container full of water to keep them moist during … Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. $.ajax({ To lift a perennial with minimal root damage, begin digging at its drip line. Gently work the plant loose from the ground, preserving the roots. Remove some of the soil near the root crown so you can … Spikes of lavender-blue flowers add a sense of lightness to the garden. In my zone 5 garden the top is almost always killed to some extent. However, many gardeners have found that dividing Russian sage actually harms the root systems and they don’t survive well after they have split. Dig up the whole clump of Russian sage in spring; divide it into wedge-sized pieces and replant in a location with similar growing conditions. Russian sage will root from hardwood cuttings as well. Here's advice from New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension on propagating it: