Salvia yangii Feathery Blue - Perovskia, Russian sage

Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Lafper' Feathery Blue is a fairly compact variety of Russian Sage, valued for its exceptionally long flowering period and its adaptation to dry conditions. This shrub, with its finely divided, attractive greyish-green foliage, produces spikes of small lavender-blue flowers for five months of the year, much to the delight of pollinating insects. The fast-growing plant tolerates poor, dry, and stony soils as well as full sun. Easy to grow in well-drained ground, it is perfectly suited to our gardens facing climate change.

Perovskia belongs to the large Lamiaceae family (approximately 7500 species), which includes many aromatic plants, such as Lemon Balm or Savory, and/or ornamental plants like Lavenders, Sages, or Phlomis. The Perovskia genus comprises only seven species found in the wild in Asia Minor and the Himalayan regions. These are shrubs not exceeding 1.50m in height, with greyish, aromatic stems and foliage. The species Perovskia atriplicifolia is one of the tallest and toughest, demonstrating great longevity. In the wild, it reaches 1.50m in height with a spread of 1m, and its airy lavender-blue flowering harmonises pleasantly with its soft grey-green foliage. It has given rise to many horticultural varieties, often more compact than the type, as is the case with Feathery Blue. The botanical name Salvia yangii ‘Lafper’ Feathery Blue is now used. This one typically measures only 80 to 100cm in height, with a width of approximately 60cm, allowing it to easily find a place even in the smallest gardens, or to be grown in a pot. It forms a dense, fast-growing clump, developing numerous fine, erect, greyish stems. They are clothed in opposite, extremely divided, even laciniate, greyish-green leaves, giving the plant a very airy appearance, similar to a fern. From June, the shrub forms opposite spikes, which develop in the upper half of the twigs. They are composed of small flowers typical of the Lamiaceae, formerly called Labiatae due to the lips that form the corolla. Their lavender-blue colour is in perfect harmony with the foliage, and their abundance compensates for their small size. The plant is literally covered by this multitude, which attracts bees and other pollinating insects. Very well adapted to dry summer conditions, this Perovskia flowers generously until October, before losing its leaves in autumn. 

Perovskia Feathery Blue is a blessing for small gardens, and for poor soils where it is capable of thriving, as long as they are not subject to excessive moisture. It is a perfect plant for dry gardens, where it will coexist with other sun-loving plants. You can pair it with Lavender 'Hidcote' with its darker violet-blue flowers, or conversely create a colour contrast by planting beside it a Santolina serrata, with foliage even greyer than its own and bright yellow flower heads. You could play on foliage contrasts with Common Sage 'Aurea' with its entire, green leaves edged in gold.