A perennial plant with purple flowers, Russian sage not only looks great in a garden, but it also has a variety of medicinal benefits. Steep sage leaves in hot water for 15-30 minutes to create a medicinal tea that can help relieve stomach pain and indigestion. Tea made from Russian sage can also help break a fever.
Can you get high on Russian sage?
Russian sage has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and is smoked as a euphoriant. In addition to its use in folk medicine, it is sometimes used in Russia to flavor a vodka-based cocktail.
Is Russian sage poisonous?
Perovskia atriplicifolia has no toxic effects reported.
What do you do with cut Russian sage?
In areas with mild winters, tackle pruning Russian sage after flowers fade and when winter settles in. You can give plants a hard prune at this point, cutting plants to 6 to 12 inches tall, if you don’t want to see stems all winter long.
Is Russian sage a good plant?
Most varieties reach 2-3 feet tall and wide, though some can be larger. Russian sage has good heat and drought tolerance, making it suitable for waterwise landscapes. This versatile perennial plant is useful as filler in a mixed border and can also be planted as hedging, massed in the landscape, or in containers.
What does Russian sage smell like?
All parts of the Russian sage plant are quite fragrant when rubbed or crushed. Some people describe it as a sage-like smell, sometimes mixed with lavender scents as well.
Is Russian sage the same as lavender?
No, these beautiful flowers that you see in this photo are not lavender. This plant is called Perovskia Atriplicifolia, commonly known as Russian Sage and occasionally Lavender of Afghanistan. Not only is its second name the same as our favorite flower, these two plants are part of the same family and look alike.
Does Russian sage keep mosquitoes away?
Both Russian Sage and Lemon Verbena are known for cooking, but they have distinct smells that keep mosquitoes away. Lavender is also popular, especially for indoors, but Gaskins said it also serves as a repellent.
Are Russian sage toxic to dogs?
Purple and pretty, Russian Sage is a great fall plant, and considered nontoxic to pets.
Should you cut back Russian sage?
Spring and summer care for Russian sage consists mainly of pruning. When new spring growth emerges, cut the old stems back to just above the lowest set of leaves. If the plant begins to spread open or sprawl in late spring or summer, shear off the top one-third of the stems to encourage upright growth.
Is Russian sage invasive?
Russian sageshould be very near the top of that list for all that it adds to the landscape – color, texture, pollinators and presence. Though it isn’t a native plant, it is not invasive and will stay where you plant it for many years – as long as you give it the well-drained conditions it needs.
How long does Russian sage live?
Russian Sage loves to live in well-drained soil and does not handle humidity very well. It must be pruned about a month after planting if starting with a mature plant and can live for three years, though its purple blooming buds that resemble the well-known Lavender plant only last about four total months.
How do you stop Russian sage from spreading?
Another way to keep a Russian sage in-bounds is to plant it inside of a “sleeve” that prevents underground runners (they’re called rhizomes) from spreading out. You can use a plastic nursery pot and cut the bottom out.
Do hummingbirds like Russian sage?
Whether the calendar says summer or fall, flowers such as Russian sage, bee balm and sunflowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds until the first frost—and sometimes beyond. It’s important to keep flowers blooming as long as possible to help butterflies and hummingbirds later in the season.
What looks good next to Russian sage?
Cheat Sheet. Russian sage attracts butterflies and bees and is dramatic as an unsung cut flower. Combines perfectly with other low water plants like lavender, sedum, and ornamental grasses, even pairs nicely with bold leafed succulents like large agaves and aloes.
Does Russian sage attract bees?
Native to the Pacific Northwest. Russian sage: Honey bees, small carpenter bees and leafcutting bees collect the nectar of this perennial garden plant. The nectar also attracts hummingbirds.
Which Russian sage is best?
The top-rated Russian sages were ‘Blue Jean Baby’, BLUE SPRITZER™, ‘Blue Steel’, ‘Denim ‘n Lace’, and LITTLE LACE™.
Are Russian sage flowers edible?
However, according to the “Plants for a Future Database”, Russian sage is listed as edible, as the “small lavender flowers have a sweet flavour and can be eaten in salads or used as a garnish.” I have not tried the flowers but they sound they could be a fun addition to summer salads.
Can I divide Russian sage?
Lift the clump of Russian sage from the ground, and shake the plant gently to remove excess soil. Divide the clump into smaller sections, teasing the roots apart carefully with your fingers. Each division should be large enough to have four or five shoots, and each shoot should have several healthy roots.
What is the difference between sage and Russian Sage?
When you rub the leaves of Russian Sage, you also get a minty aroma. Russian Sage differentiates from Salvia with its fern-like foliage. It grows quite long and will spread out low, hanging heavy towards the ground.
Is Russian Sage easy to grow?
Russian sage is easy to grow and cold hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9. It grows best in warm climates and tolerates clay or average soils, as long as the drainage is good, but they need full sun to produce lots of flowers and sturdy stems that won’t flop over as they grow taller.
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