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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Pakistan (Asia) |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Parentage: (P. abrotanoides x atriplicifolia?) |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Perovskia 'Little Spire' (Compact Russian Sage) - This is hardy, upright multi-stemmed, sub-shrub or deciduous perennial grows to 2-3 feet tall with stems that are thin, white and covered with finely divided feathery olive green leaves, which emit a pleasant aroma when touched. The light fuzzy clusters of small purple-blue flowers appear summer through early fall along the coast. Cut back to the lowest buds (nearly to the ground) in late fall as the plant tries to go dormant (leaves can linger here in our mild climate) or in early spring prior to new growth emerging. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil with occasional summer watering, though it is a tough plant that is resistant to drought, heat, pests and poor soils. It is hardy to USDA Zone 5a (-20°F). It is resistant to deer browsing and the flowers attract butterflies and honeybees well. The flowers can be used in floral arrangements. This selection of Russian Sage was selected for its relatively short and upright habit, which prevents the leaning that is typical of the species. It was discovered by Herbert Oudshoorn in a seed bed of sown Perovskia hybrida seed in Rijpwetering, The Netherlands in 1995 and received US Plant Patent PP11,643 on November 21, 2000, which has since expired. It was marketed through Future Plants, a Dutch cooperative formed to discover and market new plants. In the patent application it was compared to Blue Spires as having darker purple-blue flowers, leaves that were slightly grayer, less deeply serrate and more acuminate, and flowers stems that were shorter. Perovskia has long been considered to be closely related to the genus Salvia (sages) but the common name Russian Sage is a bit of a misnomer as they come from southern Asia from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran east to China. The genus was named for Russian General and Count, Vasily Alekseevich Perovsky, who campaigned in central Asia in the 1850s. The most recent treatment of Perovskia based on DNA research has the genus included with rosemary in the now even larger genus Salvia. This cultivar, like a href="plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1220" target="_blank">'Blue Spire' is thought to be a Perovskia atriplicifolia (now considered a synonym with Salvia yangii) cultivar or a hybrid between this species and P. abrotanoides (now Salvia abrotanoides).
The information about Perovskia 'Little Spire' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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