The illustrated growing guide
Russian Sage
Salvia yangii
Family Lamiaceae
Est. zones 4-9
Lavender-colored smoke for the worst spot you own: reflected heat, gravel, drought. August-to-frost blue when the garden's tired, on literally zero care.
Full Sun — full stop
Low water
Moderate growth
Attracts bees
From the print shop
The closest print we make
We don’t print Salvia yangii. The closest we have is Salvia rosmarinus (“Rosemary Tree”) in the Christmas Botanicals collection — the same genus, Salvia, not the same species.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will russian sage suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what russian sage actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Russian Sage at a glance
Common russian sage problems
- None
- Root Rot in irrigated clay (kindness kills it)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow russian sage: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate russian sage
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The year
What russian sage asks for, month by month.
The russian sage year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The russian sage year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun quiet month
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep bloom
- Oct bloom
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Russian Sage in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
What russian sage is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of russian sage, ruled as a catalogue.
Best russian sage varieties & cultivars
'Denim 'n Lace' (compact, upright); 'Little Spire'; 'Blue Jean Baby'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to russian sageyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Russian Sage questions, answered straight.
Is russian sage safe for kids and pets?
Russian Sage is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate russian sage?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where russian sage sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily