Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Lisslitt' LACEY BLUE) is a woody-based perennial shrub from Central Asia that earned the Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year award in 1995. This hardy variety grows 18-24 inches tall and spreads 18-36 inches wide, thriving in zones 5-9 with minimal fuss. Its finely-dissected, aromatic gray-green foliage creates a soft, ethereal texture on stiff square stems, while whorls of two-lipped, tubular light blue flowers bloom from June through frost in dense, tiered panicles. The genus name honors Russian general V. A. Perovski (1794 c. 1857), a fitting tribute to this plant's Central Asian origins.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
24in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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This compact cultivar produces showy lavender-blue flower panicles that hummingbirds visit freely throughout the growing season, from early summer until the first hard frost. The leaves smell wonderfully aromatic when crushed, releasing a pleasant herbal fragrance. Deer and rabbits leave it untouched, and it handles drought, clay soil, dry conditions, and urban pollution with equal grace, asking only for full sun and well-drained soil in return.
Russian Sage excels as an ornamental shrub in mixed borders, meadow gardens, and naturalized plantings where its airy structure and extended blooms create a soft, layered aesthetic. Its drought tolerance and low maintenance needs suit it to xeriscaping and water-wise garden designs, while its ability to thrive in clay soil and urban conditions makes it reliable for challenging sites. The fragrant foliage and pollinator-attracting flowers also position it well for cutting gardens and landscapes designed to support hummingbirds and other beneficial insects.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors at a temperature range of 65-75°F, sowing them 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Keep soil lightly moist but not waterlogged during germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in spring. Space plants 18-36 inches apart to accommodate mature width. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before final planting.
Cut plants back almost to the ground in late winter to early spring as soon as new growth appears. This aggressive pruning maintains a compact shape and prevents the sprawling or flopping that can occur as plants age through the growing season, especially in partial shade. While some gardeners pinch the stems in spring to control height, this compact cultivar typically requires less pinching than taller species forms.
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“Russian Sage belongs to a genus of seven deciduous shrub species native to Central Asia and the Himalayas. Plant explorers and botanists have long admired these shrubs for their ornamental foliage and flowers, and over time, gardeners have selected and bred compact cultivars like 'Lisslitt' LACEY BLUE to suit smaller garden spaces while retaining the species' signature hardiness and long bloom season. The plant's journey from its native Central Asian range to Western gardens reflects the nineteenth and twentieth century passion for discovering and adapting drought-tolerant perennials that could thrive in diverse climates.”