Russian Sage

Russian sage is a kind of deciduous shrub that is widely used in landscaping and decorating a garden. It grows to a height of about 3 to 5 feet and grows well in both tropical as well as temperate climates. It has grayish green leaves with small lavender colored flowers and it blooms for a long season. The stem of the Russian sage is slightly woody in nature, and when they are crushed, it gives off a pungent and slightly spicy odor. It is native to Afghanistan and Pakistan and flourishes in a rocky terrain. The plant grows considerably in well irrigated soil with good sunlight and it grows in a clump. It is used in gardens as flower borders because of there beautiful lavender colored flowers.

How to Grow Russian Sage

If you wish to grow Russian sage plant then you need to do so by using a cutting from a healthy plant in the month of May to June. You need a softwood cutting for growing Russian sage. The first thing that you need to do, is to choose a healthy young plant that is free from disease and parasites. Now take a sharp knife and sterilize it by pouring alcohol over it to avoid transmission of any diseases. With the help of the knife, make a diagonal cut which is about 1 to 2 inches deep and 3 inches in length. Make sure that the softwood cutting that you have taken contains at least two to three leaves and make the cutting when you are just ready to plant it. Dip the cutting into a container that contains rooting hormone as this will make the sage plant grow faster.

Now make a mixture by combining potting soil, peat, vermiculite and perlite along with a good fertilizer. Fill a large terracotta or clay pot with this mixture and make sure that there is a hole at the bottom of the pot covered with a piece of brick for proper drainage. Make a small depression about 2 inches deep in the soil and place the cutting into it. Gently make the area around the cutting even and water it thoroughly. Now cover the pot with a plastic bag, making sure that it is supported on two to three sticks so that the bag is not in contact with the plant. Make sure that the soil in the pot is kept moist but not soaking wet. After 3 to 4 weeks the Russian sage cutting will root, and then you can plant it in your garden or backyard. Periodic pruning of the plant is also very necessary as their branches tend to grow out quickly. To care for this plant, you need not spend too much time looking after it as it is a very low maintenance plant. The only thing that you need to take care of is pruning, so as to allow new growth and more blooms.

The Russian sage plant looks stunning when planted with daisies and black eyed susan due to the contrast in colors. They make an excellent decorative shrub for any type of garden particularly a large one.