Perovskia 'Lacey Blue' Blue-Purple - Hardy plant

Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® thrives in a sandy soil with some humus. Slightly improve poor soil, with some ordinary potting compost. This plant will also grow in clay soil with some sharp sand mixed in. Main thing to ensure is drainage. Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® likes to be in the full sun but part shade is ok too. Choose a good spot for your Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'®. Soak the root ball in a bucket of lukewarm water before planting. Prepare a wide hole and loosen the soil with a fork. Stand your Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® at the correct height in the hole - the top of the root ball should come to just below ground lever. Refill the hole and press firmly down. Water your Russian Sage immediately after planting. Combining Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® with other plants Thanks to its intense flowering and beautiful grey-green foliage, This Russian sage makes a wonderful border plant. With its beautiful colouring it will complement many garden plants. Try it with the soft Acanthus mollis, and with Tritoma (uvaria Kniphofia ‘Grandiflora’) you will get another effect but equally exceptional. When planting choose a spot with sufficient space as the Russian Sage can grow quite wide. In the shrubbery, team it up with a Caryopteris ‘Heavenly Blue’ and Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Thundercloud’). Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'® is often confused with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) which indeed has the same colours as this Perovskia. However they do look wonderful together in the border.

Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® is a small compact shrub requiring little or no maintenance. While this is the more compact grower of all the varieties it will still grow to around 80 cm high. The long shoots will grow firmer if in full sun. Sage (Perovskia) has a broad growth but this is easily curtailed if you tie the plant in. Wet feet in wintertime will not be appreciated and although very hardy, some frost damage can be expected. An extra layer of leaf litter over the winter will help to prevent this. Pruning your Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'® Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'® flowers on new branches. Cut back in the spring to 3 buds. Rejuvenate if necessary by removing up to a third of all branches. Pruning every year will make the plant stronger and it will live much longer.

Perovskia atriplicifolia is called Russian Sage because of its origins which include Southern Russia. Perovskia is not actually sage (Salvia sp.) but just has the name. The flowers are real butterfly magnets and the leaves of the Perovskia are extremely aromatic too. Russian Sage 'Little Spire'® is (sea) wind resistant.