Thanks for your replys. I love the color of this plant so much and the airy kind of look to it. I would be putting it behind rudebeckia's and up against the front of my house. The height could tower over my windows too high so this is why I asked if it could be cut. I know their is a smaller version called "little spire" but this one doesn't get tall enough. What do you think? Could I keep it a decent height or what else could I put there that would be comparable? I just love the plant and really want it to work if possible.

Sounds like Fourlined Plant Bugs. The nymphs are bright red and appear in May or June. The adults have four black lines down the wings. They move fast, but their weakness is that they drop off the leaves and try to fly when you disturb them. I place a small bucket of soapy water underneath them, then shake them so they fall in the water. You can also spray the plants with insecticidal soaps. The bugs lay their eggs in the stems of infested perennials to overwinter, so it is important to clean up and dispose of the plant debris in the fall. The Russian Sage may grow out of the damage, but if it is too severe, you could prune off the damaged sections. Russian Sage can be cut back by half (to 6" to 12") this time of the year anyway to promote a fuller plant (which blooms slightly later than unpruned plants).

Very nice specimen. You do have to give it a lot of room. There are somewhat smaller cultivars if your space is limited. One thing though, I'm not so sure it suckers so much as it reseeds. Yes the plants themselves get larger and woodier over time, but I think it is the seedlings that spread the most. My main control tactic is to be sure to deadhead it and cut it back in the fall, and I don't go and look at the garden in that area without taking a trowel or something to uproot any unwanted seedlings. I think as a plant they have a sort of golden period when they aren't so young and sparse, and yet they aren't so old and rasty and woody yet. They can look like the wicked witch of the west, and they can be really beautiful.

Hi Lavender & R Sage friends - I thought to bring this thread back up, with hopes to visit with you once more ... regarding our experiences with these 2 of my favorites! The ground-layering method, of rooting, did work wonderfully & now, I have 4 new & growing well, independent, little shrubs of Lavender in other beds I have!!! Re: Little Spire (R Sage) suffered a bit, from the very severe, past Winter we had, as well as the very soggy first 2 weeks of Jun, followed by sunny/hot/oppressively,steamy last 2 wks!!! Â:( Both Li'l Spire & Reg R Sage showed up, a wee bit late, but finally now, beautiful once more, with these, unusually cooler Jul & Aug. I wonder how all yours are? Oh, I've been pulling so many young shoots of both Li'l Spire & R Sage around their respective sites ... growing a few in pots as well! Hello shapiro & jroot - sorry for not having responded, to your posts (forgot to bookmark this thread) - it is so good to know, that this lovely scent of Yardley Lavender, from our youths, bring wonderful memories. I still purchase Lavender soap, to this day, just to bury among the linens & bath towels (a long ago, habit) ... collect spikes of Lavender blossoms, as well, to dry & hang in closets etc!!! Hope to read from you! TIA