Perovskia atriplicifolia Silvery Blue - Russian Sage

The Perovskia (x) atriplicifolia Silvery Blue is a more compact and particularly bright hybrid form of the Afghan sage, due to its almost white vegetation, a beautiful silver colour, enhancing an endless summer flowering of a very vivid lavender blue. This deciduous bush has a slightly wild appearance and a light mass, making it very striking. Its foliage emits a powerful aroma when crushed. It thrives in poor, sandy, rocky, gravelly, and stony soils, like its country of origin's dry and well-drained soils. It also requires a very sunny location. This plant is very hardy and is essential for a dry garden.

Probably resulting from the cross-breeding between Perovskia abrotanoides and Perovskia atriplicifolia, often considered a large woody perennial, Perovskia 'Silvery Blue' is a fairly recent cultivar, very interesting for its very light foliage and moderate growth. It is an aromatic plant from the family Lamiaceae, which also includes other highly scented plants such as thyme, sage, lavender, and mint. Its two presumed parents are native to the arid mountains of Iran and Turkmenistan for the first one, and Afghanistan, or even southern Siberia for the second one. After 4 years of growth, this bush will mature at a height of 60cm (23.6 in) and a width of 70cm (27.6 in). The branches of the bush spread out and are adorned with petite, deciduous, serrated leaves, which are light grey. As the soil dries out during summer, the leaves become even whiter. These leaves are very aromatic and release a complex fragrance when crushed. Initially, they evoke an animal-like smell, which is very fleeting, followed by a menthol aroma. Finally, they end with a sweet note that reminds one of lychee.

The Silvery Blue Russian sage will bloom all summer in dry soil, even when the garden is ravaged by heat. In a dry garden (with sandy or rocky soil), it can be planted alongside Gauras, Lychnis coronaria, shrubby salvias, Epilobium canum Western Hills, Echium russicum, Oenothera drummondii, to create a multicoloured shrub. It pairs very well with ornamental grasses (Stipa ichu, Miscanthus, Panicum virgatum Squaw) as well as with all summer perennials, but also with botanical (Rosa complicata, Rosa hugonis, Rosa rugosa) or English roses (Rosa Morning Mist, Fighting Temeraire). An infusion of its dried leaves can combat aphids, whiteflies, and scale invasions.

NOTE: Attention, the branches of the bush are dry in winter. Its branches are semi-evergreen and are pruned close to the ground in winter. Young shoots will develop from the base in early spring.