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Salvia 'Blue Spire' (Russian sage 'Blue Spire')

Other names: Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Blue Spire', Perovskia hybrida 'Blue Spire', Perovskia 'Blue Spire', Salvia 'Blue Spire' (Pe)

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Variety or Cultivar
'Blue Spire' is an erect, deciduous sub-shrub with deeply-divided, aromatic grey-green leaves and large, plumy panicles of violet-blue flowers in late summer and autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
1.5 m 1 m 2-5 years
4 ft 3 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in poor, free-draining soil in full sun. Too fertile soil may boost 'leggy' growth and will require support to prevent the plant becoming untidy.

Suggested uses

Gravel, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Cottage/Informal, City, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Prairie planting

UK hardiness

H5

USDA zones

Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2, 3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Low
South Coastal = Low
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Low
Low Desert = Low

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Erect

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Propagation methods

Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

Prune late summer or autumn flowering shrubs (optional)

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (476)

Salvia

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Salvia (any tender or borderline hardy perennial variety)
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Salvia (any tender or borderline hardy shrub variety)
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Salvia (any tender or borderline hardy shrub variety) Sage (any tender or borderline hardy shrub variety)
Salvia (any hardy perennial variety)
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Salvia (any hardy perennial variety) Sage (any hardy perennial variety)
Salvia lycioides
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Salvia lycioides Canyon sage
Salvia rosmarinus 'Roseus'
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Salvia rosmarinus 'Roseus' Rosemary 'Roseus'
Salvia greggii 'Icing Sugar'
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Salvia greggii 'Icing Sugar' Autumn sage 'Icing Sugar'
Salvia pratensis 'Rose Rhapsody' (Ballet Series)
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Salvia pratensis 'Rose Rhapsody' (Ballet Series) Clary 'Rose Rhapsody'
Salvia aurea
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Salvia aurea Golden sage
Salvia azurea var. grandiflora
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Salvia azurea var. grandiflora Pitcher sage
Salvia blepharophylla
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Salvia blepharophylla Eyelash sage
Salvia chamaedryoides
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Salvia chamaedryoides Germander sage
Salvia coccinea
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Salvia coccinea Scarlet sage
Salvia elegans
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Salvia elegans Pineapple sage
Salvia farinacea
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Salvia farinacea Mealy sage
Salvia greggii
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Salvia greggii Autumn sage
Salvia guaranitica
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Salvia guaranitica Anise-scented sage
Salvia involucrata
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Salvia involucrata Rosy-leaf sage
Salvia microphylla
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Salvia microphylla Baby sage
Salvia nemorosa
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Salvia nemorosa Balkan clary
Salvia splendens
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Salvia splendens Scarlet-flowered sage
Salvia x jamensis
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Salvia x jamensis Hybrid Mexican sage
Salvia x sylvestris
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Salvia x sylvestris Wood sage
Salvia 'Blaukonigin'
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Salvia 'Blaukonigin' Wood sage 'Blaukonigin'
Salvia pratensis
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Salvia pratensis Meadow clary
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Companion plants (11)

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Uniola paniculata
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Uniola paniculata Sea oats
Stipa (any evergreen variety)
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Stipa (any evergreen variety) Feather grass (any evergreen variety)
Stipa gigantea 'Goldilocks'
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Stipa gigantea 'Goldilocks' Golden oats 'Goldilocks'
Chasmanthium sessiliflorum
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Chasmanthium sessiliflorum Longleaf woodoats
Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist'
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Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist' North American wild oats 'River Mist'
Stipa gigantea 'Gold Fontaene'
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Stipa gigantea 'Gold Fontaene' Golden oats 'Gold Fontaene'
Chasmanthium latifolium
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Chasmanthium latifolium North America wild oats
Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Saphirsprudel'
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Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Saphirsprudel' Blue oat grass 'Saphirsprudel'
Campanula latifolia
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Campanula latifolia Giant bellflower
Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'
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Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen' Yarrow 'Cerise Queen'
Stipa gigantea
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Stipa gigantea Golden oats
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Related content

Discuss Salvia 'Blue Spire' with other Shoot members

Re: do i have to take cuttings

Lou
1095 0
Thanks Cathy, very useful. Lou
Posted: Tuesday 4th of October 2011 06:49 PM

Re: do i have to take cuttings

Kathy N
1095 0
Hi, Lou,
It really depends on where you live as to what you do with it. Perovskia will behave like a perennial in areas with cold winters, a shrub or subshrub in areas with mild winters. I have grown it in both types of climates. No matter where I grow it, I always deadhead the spent flower spikes - you will usually get a second bloom if you do. Expert recommendation if you live in a mild area is to prune in spring (see care instructions here on Shoot). I have pruned in autumn in mild areas if it looked really tatty. In cold areas, you can leave it for winter interest and leaving the stems can sometimes help protect roots from cold (i.e. frost/cold doesn't travel down cut stalks and damage the roots). Whenever you cut, you can cut low (ie. 5-10cm from the ground) but always cut to an outward-facing bud.
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 3rd of October 2011 06:52 PM

do i have to take cuttings

Lou
1095 2
New garden so planted when about 18 ins high. looking scraggly now at about 2.5 ft. should i take cuttings or just cut back please? If latter, to what height?
Posted: Monday 3rd of October 2011 04:07 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 09:46 PM
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