Also known as Perovskia pamirica
Erect, perennial shrub growing 3-4' tall and 3-4' wide
Native to southwestern and central Asia
Leaves are small and simple, with a strong, cool sage scent.
Thrives in most climates and soil conditions, but requires sun and good drainage.
Hardiness zones 3-9
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
Smoked as a medicinal euphoriant and used in cocktails, it has long been a staple of Russian and Central Asian culture. It has noted medcinal properties, especially when used in teas.
The practice of "smudging", or the ritualistic burning of sage, is a tradition practiced by various Algonquian-speaking American Indian groups including the Anishinabe people. Sage is one of the four sacred herbs in Anishinabe culture, the other being sweetgrass, tobacco, and cedar. Virigina Graverette Pigeon, the former elder of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, explains that they "smok[e] the Pipe of Peace before great councils, after war, and before other ceremonies" in rememberance of a mythological battle. They adopted the custom of smoking the herbs in their daily lives to "compose their minds and spirits".
Smudging has also been adopted by New Age spiritualists and Neopagans. Sage smoke's power to dispel evil influence and bad energy from a home has become somewhat of a modern folktalke, associated with the popular pseudoscientific practice of aromatherapy.
Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that sage granted wisdom, longevity, and immortality.
Specimen photographed found at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Plant History and Etymology
Salvia is the Latin term for sage, derived from salvus, meaning "saved; unharmed". The specific epithet likely derives from C. Y. Yang, one of the people credited with first naming the plant. Yang called it Perovskia pamirica, but this name was changed in 2017 (this is speculation, no etymlogy could be found online). It was introduced to the UK by the Irish botanist William Robinson in 1904, who described it as being "worth a place in the choices garden", having a "graceful habit and long season of beauty". It has a long history of cultivars dating back to the 1930s, and it gained widespread popularity as an ornamental in the 1980s and 1990s.
Design Considerations
The plant's large, paniculed flowers, which come in dull blue, purple, and lavendar, are very showy and bloom in the summer, remaining into the fall. The leaves are very fragrant and turn to an attractive shiny silver color in the fall. The stems are gray and hairy. Its resistance to common issues such as deer and drought, its overall resilience, and its dense growing pattern make it a common and effective choice for ornamental plantings. Common cultivars such as S. yangii 'Blue Spire' and 'Longin' extend its seasonal interest and make it even more resilient.
Sources
“Salvia Yangii (Russian Sage) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2018. Ncsu.edu. 2018. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-yangii/.
“Perovskia Pamirica C.Y.Yang & B.Wang | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” 2021. Plants of the World Online. 2021. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:931579-1.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Salvia Yangii.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. October 13, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_yangii#Distribution,_habitat,_and_ecology.
Sylvia. 2018. “Health Benefits of Russian Sage.” Health Benefits | Health Benefits of Foods and Drinks. Health Benefits. October 10, 2018. https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/russian-sage/.
“Smudging--A Native American Tradition.” 2021. Ewebtribe.com. 2021. http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/articles/smudging.htm.