perennial

Russian sage

Salvia yangii (syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Russian sage is a fast-growing deciduous perennial hardy in zones 4–9. It grows 3–4 ft tall and 2–4 ft wide, so plant it 3 ft apart. Give it full sun and little water once established. It flowers purple in July to October. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the filler role: a flowering plant that fills the middle or front of the bed. Deer usually leave it alone, and it is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in Florida and the Gulf, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name: Salvia yangii (syn. Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Plant type: Perennial, deciduous
Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Water: Low
Soil: Lean, well-drained soil; flops in rich or wet soil.
Mature size: 3–4 ft tall × 2–4 ft wide
Spacing: 3 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate: Fast
Bloom: Jul–Oct · purple
Roles in a bed: Filler
Styles: modern, low water, cottage
Deer resistance: High: deer rarely eat it
Pets: Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. ASPCA describes Russian sage as non-toxic to pets.
Native to: Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price: 1-gallon pot, typically $12–$20 (easy to find)
Plant in: Spring or Fall
First-year watering: Water weekly through the first summer until roots establish, then only during long dry spells.
Pruning: Cut woody stems back to 6–12 in in early spring as new buds break.

Sources: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (from general knowledge; not re-checked unless verification is web-checked); Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder and grower tags; State extension service guidance and USDA PLANTS distribution maps; Rutgers NJAES Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and state noxious weed lists; Typical 2026 US garden-centre and big-box retail listings (estimate); Web search 2026-11: ASPCA plant pages (non-toxic); EDDMapS and state noxious weed lists (not listed). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 4
Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 6 (as a substitute)
Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 7 (as a substitute)
Deer-resistant plants for a full-sun bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)
Low-water plants for a full-sun bed in zone 4 (as a substitute)
Low-water plants for a full-sun bed in zone 7 (as a substitute)
What to plant in a full-sun bed in zone 8 (as a substitute)
Modern planting for a sunny bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Russian sage, across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Russian sage: same role in the bed, passing the same rules.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated November 12, 2026. How FloraVista chooses plants