Flowers

How to Plant Russian Sage: Timing, Spacing, Care & Bloom

Quick answer

Container plants through summer until about one month before hard killing frost (WI). Cut back to ~12 inches after first hard frost (NC).

Russian sage at a glance

PlantPlant containers (until cutoff): 4 wk before last frost; Cut back: last frost
SunWI/NC: full sun; well-drained.
SpacingWI: about 18 inches apart; plants 3–4 feet tall.
Days to bloomSummer bloom (WI)
-5-4-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Updated

Not culinary sage: Russian sage is Salvia yangii (formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia). See culinary sage and ornamental salvia.

Russian sage flowers
Russian sage (Salvia yangii). Photo: Stan Shebs, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized).

Sourced from university extension guides. For dates where you live, use the ZIP planting planner.

Planting timing

Wisconsin: container-grown plants “can be planted out through the summer until one month before a hard killing frost.” (Wisconsin Russian sage) NC State: “Cut back to 12 inches after the first hard frost in the fall.” (NC State Salvia yangii)

Depth and spacing

WI: about 18 inches apart; plants 3–4 feet tall. NC: available space 3–6 feet.

Sun, soil and water

WI/NC: full sun; well-drained. Drought-tolerant once established. Rich/moist shade encourages flopping (WI).

Care

Optional seed cold treatment is a germination aid, not a garden frost-week plant rule (WI). Prefer lean, sunny sites.

Bloom

WI: lavender-blue flowers all summer; bees. Aromatic gray-green foliage.

Pests and diseases

WI: essentially no disease or insect problems once established.

Related: ornamental salvia · culinary sage · ZIP planner

Frequently asked questions

When can I still plant?

Until about one month before hard killing frost (WI).

When do I cut it back?

After first hard frost to ~12 inches (NC).

Cooking sage?

No — landscape perennial.

Sources