Harvest soft wood cuttings from your Russian sage in the late spring or early summer with a clean garden knife or secateurs. Make cuttings at least 5-inches in length and leave any foliage intact so that the cutting is not compromised in removing the leaves.

How do you propagate Russian sage?

To propagate Russian sage from cuttings, choose a healthy, mature plant and take several cuttings that are each about four inches long, using a clean pair of pruning shears. Make your cuts just above a leaf node. Strip off all of the leaves except for a few at the tip of each cutting. Remove any buds or flowers.

Does Russian sage self propagate?

Propagation. Russian sage frequently self-seeds in the garden, enabling new plants to spring up. ... It is also sometimes possible to obtain new plants from root cuttings, which should be at least the diameter of a pencil, taken in early spring or late winter.

When can you divide and transplant Russian sage?

Divide Russian sage in the spring while the plants are still small. Choose a cool morning on an overcast day so the roots won't dry out quickly, and so the newly-divided plant will have time to establish in its new location.

When should you cut back 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. Otherwise, wait to do a hard prune in late winter or very early spring.

How to Propagate Russian Sage through Cuttings

Can you divide Russian sage?

Remove the top half of the stems if the plant stops blooming in summer. This encourages new growth and a fresh flush of flowers. Propagate Russian sage plants by dividing the clumps or taking cuttings in spring. Dividing the clumps every four to six years reinvigorates the plants and helps to control their spread.

Should you deadhead Russian sage?

Trimming & Pruning: Deadheading will not affect bloom time for Russian sage, however it should be cut back each year in early spring to approximately 12-15” above the ground. In the winter landscape it is a visual bonus, offering a ghostly, airy appearance on frosty mornings.

Can you transplant Russian sage in the summer?

Transplanting Russian sage (also known as Perovskia atriplicifolia) can take place any time during the growing season. This perennial plant grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, and grows best in full sun with well-draining soil that's dry or has medium moisture.

How long does Russian sage take to grow?

Russian Sage Growing Tips

Germination can take up to four months. In the meantime, you will need to keep the seeds continually moist and warm. Once they do germinate, it can be a few years before they are large enough to begin flowering. However, it is an option and a good way to get a lot of inexpensive plants.

Why is my Russian sage falling over?

Russian sage can flop in mid-season, once it has attained the bulk of its normal height. Partial sun conditions can cause the plant to “stretch” a bit, looking for the sun. Such excessive growth can cause the stems to become top-heavy, and then flop. The plants like a full day of sun when they can get it.

Can you root Russian sage cuttings in water?

As a woody flowering perennial, Russian sage can be propagated by cuttings as well as by seed. ... Make a fresh cut on the bottom end if the woody cutting, immediately dip it in water and then into rooting hormone powder so that the bottom inch or so is coated.

Is Russian sage a good pollinator?

However, everything about Russian sage makes it a perfect plant for your pollinator garden. It is low-maintenance, drought tolerant, and is not eaten by deer or rabbits. At the same time, it is popular with all sorts of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hover flies.

How do you start a Russian sage plant?

Start with your planting spot. Russian sage needs full sun to perform its best. Give it a little shade, and plants tend to flop open as stems stretch for sunlight. Choose a location with hot, intense sun, even as hot as the space between sidewalk and street or a strip along a driveway.

Should you fertilize Russian sage?

Russian sage does not require much fertilizer either, but it will need a small amount of nutrients very seldomly. Every other year, around late fall, amend your soil with a handful of general purpose fertilizer or a shovelful of compost. ... Russian sage is a member of the mint family and spreads by runners.

Does Russian sage come back every year?

Russian sage belongs to a class of shrubs called subshrubs. New growth comes each year from a woody base, and flowering is on the new growth. Remove the old growth, which usually dies back in winter, in early spring. Plants grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

What is Russian sage good for?

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 Russian sage be grown in pots?

Russian sage (Perovskia) is a very good plant for containers, especially large ones. Its elegant spikes of light lavender-blue flowers provide an airy contrast to perennials, annuals and small shrubs through the summer and into fall, while its pungent gray foliage is attractive for many months.

Is Russian sage poisonous to dogs?

8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a great fall plant. And thankfully, these pretty, purple plants are not considered toxic to pets.

Does sage transplant well?

The plant grows woody after a few years of growth, so dividing it is helpful so it has enough space to thrive. Luckily, transplanting sage seedlings or cuttings is easy.

Do you cut back Perovskia?

Pruning perovskia

In February, cut back all the vegetation practically down to ground level. This severe pruning is needed every year, because the younger stems are always much more beautiful.

Is there a dwarf Russian sage?

Lacy Blue Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia Lacey Blue) is a true dwarf cultivar discovered in an English garden and just recently introduced to the US. Its smaller size makes it very useful when space is an issue and a smaller version of Russian Sage is required. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).

Does Russian Sage repel mosquitoes?

Both Russian Sage and Lemon Verbena are known for cooking, but they have distinct smells that keep mosquitoes away. ... The Dusty Miller plant has nice foliage color that helps repel the mosquito, according to Gaskins.

Does Russian Sage bloom all summer?

Russian sage is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub, making it a great choice for xeriscaping. Its long blooming period is valued by those who seek a flower bed that remains in bloom throughout the growing season. This bush produces panicles of small, bluish-lavender flowers throughout the summer.

What kind of bees are attracted to Russian sage?

Russian sage: Honey bees, small carpenter bees and leafcutting bees collect the nectar of this perennial garden plant. The nectar also attracts hummingbirds. Red-flowering currant: Important nectar source for early-season butterflies.