Russian Sage Pruning: How and When to Cut Back Perovskia

12.02.2024 - 13:37 / savvygardening.com / Jessica Walliser

This article is all about Russian sage pruning, including when, why, and how. Learning how to cut back Russian sage properly is essential for plant health and maintaining the ideal growth habit of this hardy perennial. Read on to learn why millions of gardeners worldwide grow this beautiful flowering plant and how to trim it properly. You’ll also find general plant care tips for this popular perennial.

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is one of those perennials that ticks all the boxes. It is one tough – and beautiful – cookie. I have four of them in my own garden and have found few other plants that perform as well in the heat of summer. A native of Central Asia and a great choice for gardeners from USDA hardiness zone 4 to zone 9, Russian sage is a woody perennial that survives winters down to minus 20°F (and perhaps even lower if the soil is not water-logged). But its hardiness isn’t its only worthwhile attribute. This drought-tolerant member of the mint family grows to a height of 2-3 feet and is covered with elongated spires of lavender-purple flowers from late spring through fall, making a gorgeous show of non-stop blooms.

Prized for its low-maintenance by humans, Perovskia is also prized for its nectar by bees and butterflies. Because it forms woody stems within a single growing season, it’s almost more like a shrub than an herbaceous perennial. It is a great choice if you are plagued by deer or rabbits as neither animal eats Russian sage. The small hairs on the foliage coupled with the leaves’ strong fragrance, make Russian sage among the most rabbit- and deer-resistant perennials out there.

While Russian sage plants require very little care, a