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Florida Gardening

Russian Sage

16 years ago

I saw some russian sage in pots at Lowe's...it's very pretty but I know nothing about it. Would it do well in N. Fl? Does it get big enough to be at the back of a bed?

Also, reminding anyone near Gainesville about Kanapaha's Annual Spring Garden Festival this weekend! I can't wait to go tho hubby wont let me take the truck )-:

Here is a link that might be useful: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

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Comments (6)

manature
16 years ago
Too many festivals, too little time! ARRRRGGGHHH!

Sandygator, I've only tried Russian sage (perovskia) once, after seeing many, many beautiful pictures of it in garden mags. I saw some ratty looking ones at Home Depot and thought I'd chance them, but they didn't do so well for me. Stayed pretty ratty, actually. My sense of it is that we are at the southern tip of the range and maybe a bit humid for it, but that with just the right location, it can work.

I've seen this growing in gardens in North Carolina, and it is certainly worth trying. It's so airy and beautiful! You are farther north than I am, so I say try one or two and experiment with placement. I think they want well-drained soil and plenty of sun.

Good luck!

Marcia
sandygator
Original Author
16 years ago
Marcia, the ones I saw were in Lake City and were beautiful. I am going to try a couple and keep a log of what where and when so if It fails (or does well) I will know what I did.
This gardening thing can certainly get under your skin, eh? (nails too)
Thanks for the good wishes!
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It's so late in the season, I would expect some leaf drop. Also those poor plants have probably been in pots sitting around at Lowes for many months and a few weeks for you. That in itself would cause some stress and more leaf drop. Unless the plants look like they're croaking completely, I doubt you have anything to worry about. Get them in the ground so they have some time to establish themselves before winter - assuming you are in a colder climate. You don't give any info about where you're at. Kevin
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I can try, but don't have a smart phone. Just picture a 3 1/2' circle around a metal flagpole. It has bricks around that.
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Russian sage, Salvia yangii (formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia), is really a woody subshrub, similar in habit to a lavender and any number of other species of salvia. Suckering stems come from a single central root system. As such, division is not impossible but not always easily done or readily accepted by the plant. I wouldn't try making any smaller divisions but plant whatever you have now with what appears to be any healthy roots as quickly as you can. Water only as necessary. And keep your fingers crossed! I have found that various plants loosely grouped as subshrubs tend to develop a very gnarly, woody base or interior over time that even routine annual pruning does not improve. IOW, they lose their looks with age :-) When that happens, it is easier to just dig, toss, and replace. These plants are not budget breakers and easily and inexpensively replaced.
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if you could shade it for a week.. that will also reduce stresses .. ive just put lawnchairs over things ... think outside the box ... if you give us a pic. maybe we could come up with some ideas ... you could probably also move them in fall ... and.. night temps are more important than day temps ... if its cool at night.. the plant has a good recovery period for what the day brought ... so watch this weeks forecast.. and shoot for a couple days with cool nights... if you do it poorly.. and lose the flowers.. plants tend to have one function in life.. reproduction ... so if you lose the flowers .. it will probably reflower.. just to try to set seed to reproduce.. even if its a sterile plant ... go figure on that ... i say go for it.. it technically is still spring ... ken
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manature
16 years ago
I'll be interested to know how they do for you, Sandygator. They are a favorite of mine...so cottagey looking. And they smell DIVINE, too, like lavender, sort of. Keep us posted!

Marcia
an_ill-mannered_ache
16 years ago
i agree with everything marcia says here... remember, if perovskaia doesn't work out for you, there are SO MANY AMAZING SAGES that grow here.
Davie Robinson
16 years ago
re:RUSSIAN SAGE

speaking of AMAZING SAGES, anyone have any advise for strains that thrive in s.w. florida zone 10 southern exposure?
tzt01
15 years ago
hi all i believe my zone is 5 i live in southwest kansas on a farm near plains. i have 3 russian sages i have had for about 6 years now. they are about my favorite in my garden, the bumble bees and butterflies love them. the first one i had i planted in a flower bed then the next year i had to move it as it got way to big. they measure about 4 feet across and about 4 feet tall each now. they are beautiful with all kinds of flowers around them and they look amazing with sunflower type plants. when i moved the first one i thought i killed it, but i was told to just cut it all the way back and now it is perfect. i have divided whole bushes and just dug little saplings and given away. they are beautiful by themselves and they make amazing backdrops. they only time i mess with them is in the early spring when i cut them back (i do not cut my plants back before winter). I hope all of you will enjoy yours as much as i do mine...

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