Do Russian Sage Plants Spread?

Growing Conditions

• Perovskia is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, but grows best in zones 6 to 8. It tolerates a variety of soil conditions, including dry soil with a high pH, as long as there is good drainage. It has an upright habit in full sun, but must be supported if grown in partial shade. As it tolerates salt, Russian sage is a good seaside plant. Little care is needed once the plants are established. Over-watering and over-fertilizing will lead to a leggy plant that must be staked.

Methods for Control

• If suckers emerge in places where you don't want Russian sage to grow, there are several steps you can take. Applying a contact herbicide to the suckers will halt their growth, but regrowth below ground is likely. Watering less and eliminating nitrogen-based fertilizers will slow expansion. Non-invasive plants that compete with Russian sage for water and nutrients can be planted nearby for natural spread control. Older stems are woody while new growth is herbaceous, so the entire plant can be pruned to the ground in the spring and new shoots will grow once the weather warms.

Tame Cultivars

• Perovskia cultivars have been developed with growth habits that are more tame than the traditional variety of Russian sage. Longin and Filigran have a more upright shape, Blue Spire grows to 2 to 3 feet, and Little Sprite is only 18 to 24 inches tall at maturity.

Let It Grow

• Although the spreading tendency of Russian sage is unwelcome in some situations, the plant is not wildly invasive. If planted in a suitable spot, its growth pattern can be a benefit rather than a challenge to overcome. Perovskia has been grown successfully as a large-scale ground cover on highway embankments. In home landscapes, one or two specimens might be placed in a corner of the garden where they can grow into large clumps without interfering with other plants.