Russian Sage Blue Spire

Since the plant does not self-seed in the garden bed and seeds are difficult to obtain, the most reliable method of propagation is by summer cuttings. Take semi-woody cuttings during July or August. Clean the cutting, stick it into a well-draining mixture of peat and sand, and keep it slightly moist until it develops a healthy root system.

This problem usually has two main causes, which can also occur simultaneously. The first is soil that is too nutrient-rich or the use of fertilizer, which causes the plant to produce long, but very soft and brittle, shoots. The second cause is often a lack of sun combined with excess water. The solution is to not fertilize the Perovskia at all, keep watering to a minimum, and ensure it gets full sun without any shade.

Yes, very intensely so. This aromatic subshrub acts as a huge magnet for various pollinators. Throughout its long flowering period, your garden bed will be full of busy bees and colorful butterflies, for whom the plant provides a rich and easily accessible source of food.

We have great news for you: Perovskia is not toxic at all, so you don't need to worry about children or pets. On the contrary, its beautiful flowers are perfectly edible! You can use them in the kitchen as an original and fragrant garnish for summer salads, desserts, or refreshing drinks. Additionally, the entire plant has a very pleasant, aromatic scent when crushed.

Perovskia is fantastic because it blooms for a very long time. Its tiny flowers will delight you throughout the summer and autumn, specifically from July to October. The flowers feature stunning shades of blue-violet to lavender and provide a perfect visual contrast against its silvery-grey to grey-green leaves.

Perovskia stands out perfectly next to other drought-tolerant perennials and grasses that have the same care requirements—namely, plenty of sun and lean soil. It pairs beautifully with Lavender, rosemary, Coneflower (Echinacea), or Yarrow. It also creates a striking color contrast with ornamental grasses, such as feather grass (Stipa) or fescue (Festuca).

Perovskia is an incredibly hardy plant, and it is not affected by common pests or diseases at all. Therefore, you don't need to spend time preparing sprays or inspecting the leaves. In fact, the aromatic substances contained in the plant reliably repel most garden pests.

Perovskia is the epitome of modesty, and you definitely shouldn't overdo it with water. Once established, it easily handles long periods of drought and gets by with minimal moisture. Watering should be infrequent. Excess water is strictly harmful to it and can lead to rapid death due to rot.

To ensure the plants have enough space and air to grow to their full height of around 120 cm, we recommend a spacing of 60 to 80 centimetres. In practice, this means you should plant 1 to 3 plants per square metre. This will ensure that the individual shrubs are not crowded and will stand out beautifully in the flowerbed.

Absolutely not! You should generally not fertilize Perovskia. In soil that is too nutrient-rich, the plant loses its natural stability, becomes unattractively leggy, its stems turn brittle, and the clumps can sag awkwardly. In poor soil without fertilizers, it maintains a firm and compact shape, meaning it will not need any artificial support.

Do not rush to prune, and under no circumstances should you cut the plant back in the autumn. Its silvery stems create a wonderful winter effect in the garden, and the upper part of the shrub naturally protects the roots from frost. Perform a radical rejuvenating prune only in the spring. At that time, cut the entire plant back to just above the ground, which will encourage it to sprout strongly and become bushier.

Overwintering is very easy. Perovskia has excellent frost resistance and can easily handle even very harsh winters down to zone 5a, which means temperatures as low as -28 °C. It does not need any covering with conifer branches. Its only weakness is waterlogging in winter, which is why sandy and well-drained soil is so important.

Perovskia 'Blue Spire' is a low-maintenance deciduous subshrub that will bring a touch of sunny steppes to your garden. It reaches a respectable height of 100 to 120 cm and is particularly striking for its white-felted stems and silvery-grey aromatic leaves. Its main charm lies in the small, medium-blue flowers that adorn the plant from summer through to autumn. It requires no prior gardening experience to grow, and you will receive a mature, well-rooted plant in a pot from us.

This plant originates from the harsh Asian steppes, so it loves heat and full sun. Choose the sunniest spot you have in the garden. As for the soil, it thrives in poor, very well-drained, sandy, or even stony ground. Be sure to avoid heavy, clay, or waterlogged soils, where its sensitive roots could rot.

Yes, if you don't have a garden, you can grow Perovskia in a larger container on a sunny terrace or balcony. It is absolutely crucial to ensure perfect drainage. Place a generous drainage layer of expanded clay or coarse gravel at the bottom of the pot and use a substrate consisting of a mix of standard garden soil and a large proportion of sand. Even when grown in a pot, remember that watering must be done very carefully.

Definitely. The flowers with long silvery stems are excellent for cutting for fresh summer bouquets. At the same time, they are perfect for drying. You can easily use them in long-lasting dried and winter arrangements, to which they add a beautiful blue-violet color and interesting texture.