Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage

Salvia yangii 'Denim 'n Lace'

Proven Winners®

Compact Denim 'N Lace Russian Sage Stays Fuller and Shorter than Standard Varieties
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 2-3 ft Tall and Wide
Showy Blue, Purple Blooms From Late Summer to Late Fall
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Pollution Tolerant

$35⁶⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give this plant at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to keep the stems sturdy and upright. If planted in too much shade, the stems will stretch toward the light and eventually flop over, requiring staking.
Soil: Excellent drainage is non-negotiable for Russian Sage because it will rot quickly in soggy soil. If you have heavy clay, amend it with grit or plant on a raised berm to ensure water moves away from the roots freely.

Watering Requirements

Water consistently during the first growing season to help the roots establish, checking the soil moisture weekly. Once established, Denim 'n Lace is incredibly drought-tolerant and prefers to be kept on the drier side; inconsistent or excessive watering often leads to weak, floppy stems rather than more blooms.

Pruning Tips

This plant blooms on new wood, so you should cut the stems back hard in early spring just as new green leaves start to appear near the base. Cut the old stems down to about 6 inches above the ground. This "hard reset" prevents the plant from becoming woody and leggy, ensuring a compact, bushy mound covered in flowers.

Fertilizer Needs

Russian Sage is a light feeder that actually performs better in lean soils, so a simple top-dressing of compost in spring is usually all it needs. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers or heavy feeding later in the season, as this promotes rapid, weak leafy growth that will cause the plant to split open and flop.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Fragrant, Deer-resistant, Attracts pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Drought resistant, Heat Tolerant, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	2-3 ft
Width	2-3 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Preferred Soil	Loamy, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Upright
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Blue, Purple
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Salvia yangii 'Denim 'n Lace'
Species	yangii
Cultivar	Denim
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

For fool-proof woody perennials that perform like a dream year after year, try a Proven Winners® Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage (Salvia yangii 'Denim 'n Lace'). This improved cultivar of Russian Sage stays shorter and more compact than other varieties! Because the flower calyxes are held closely together, the plant looks quite full, never wimpy or wispy, when in bloom!

Denim 'n Lace is a plant that is well worth your investment. You could literally build your garden design around it! This plant gives you an amazing amethyst-blue flower color from early and late summer through fall. Both the lacy denim-blue flowers and aromatic silvery-green foliage color are gorgeous and restful. You'll be pleased to see how much visual energy the mounded upright form brings to your landscape!

It's rugged, pretty, and easy to care for. The strong stems are sturdy. It won't flop or droop, even in the strongest winds and heaviest rains. Deer tend to leave it alone but butterflies, bees, and pollinators are drawn to it! Don't be surprised to see Hummingbirds visit your yard, because they love the nectar!

Formerly going by the botanical name Perovskia atriplicifolia, Denim 'n Lace is a Proven Winners® selection, so you know it's been field-tested for many years! This is a versatile high performer that is adaptable across much of the United States USDA zones 4 to 9. It is especially well suited for hot, dry summers, can tolerate bitter cold climates and humidity doesn't bother them at all!

Planting and Application:

Are your creative juices flowing thinking about how you could use it in your yard? Good! Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage won't overpower your garden. In fact, it plays beautifully with other plants! This plant gives you amazing amethyst-blue flower color from early and late summer and into the fall. Use Russian Sage Denim 'n Lace in several design applications, including as thrillers in large outdoor containers.

Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage looks great in garden beds, too. They provide a welcome, airy texture that plays up well against evergreens, Roses, rough-textured prairie plants, and taller Ornamental Grasses. Use multiple plants together to become the star of your Rock Garden, rustic or modern landscape design, foundation bed or pollinator border.

They can be massed to fill a wide, open area with color. Or, run a narrow border of them throughout your yard to create a "river of blue". Include in your hot, sunny xeric locations and Russian Sage is even great for fire-wise landscaping defensive plans!

From contemporary to Cottage, Denim 'n Lace adds a charming dose of color and stylish grace. The long flower spires sway to and fro in the slightest breeze. Line your pool deck with these durable plants. You'll feel cooler in the heat of summer just looking at them!

Try a pair flanking either side of your front door for an easy-breezy style. Add them as an edging plant along your front walk with annuals. They'll jazz up tired old evergreen shrubs in a heartbeat!

Use Russian Sage Denim and Lace in several design applications, including as thrillers in large outdoor containers. Bring the blooms indoors as cut flower bouquets or as dried flowers later on for botanical decor.

Russian Sage tolerates salt spray, so use it along your street plantings and driveway!

2020 Proven Winners® National Perennial of the Year
Cool-Toned Lavender Blue Spires - Bloom for Months
Scented Gray-Green Fragrant Foliage Adds Lacey Touch
Low-Maintenance Flower Factory - Adds Energy & Motion
Upright Habit Stays Naturally Tidy & Compact
Wonderful Border Plant & Perfect for Mass Plantings
Suits Many Garden Styles from Formal to Informal

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Like all Russian Sage, Denim 'n Lace grows into a blessedly low-maintenance asset in your landscape! Give this sun lover well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. It loves hot, dry weather and full sun all day long.

These relatives of Salvia are great for the beginning gardener. Long-time gardeners will tell you that the more you neglect it, the better it grows! Hardy throughout USDA hardiness zones 4 - 9, Russian Sage are salt-tolerant plants that tolerate average and alkaline soils equally well. One of many deer-resistant perennials, you'll have few issues to worry about with this amazing plant!

You don't need to tell anyone how little care it requires. It will tolerate periodic drought but will flower best if it receives an even amount of water on a regular basis. When you plant these perennials, ensure the water drains away from the crown quickly. Elevate your planting bed, or plant in containers with lots of drainage holes or on a berm with fast-draining soil.

Prune to shape or rejuvenate in early spring, cutting back the stems at a 45-degree angle just above the lowest bud. Clean the mounds just as you notice new growth in the early spring. You can pinch back or shear plants in the late spring or early summer by half to encourage tidy mounded growth with lots of branching. Every 3-5 years, divide Russian Sage to prevent overcrowding.

Full Sun Lover!
Any Well-Drained Soil Type
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Tolerates Periodic Drought
Deer Tend to Leave This One Alone

Go ahead, look like a genius. Use Proven Winners® Denim 'n Lace from Nature Hills. After all, professional garden designers rely on our expert growers for excellent plant material, and you should, too. Don't let your garden be without this wonderful sage for one more season! Order your Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage from Nature Hills today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the growing zones for this plant?

Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage thrives in USDA zones 4-9. This adaptable perennial handles hot dry summers, bitter cold winters, and humidity with ease. Plant it in full sun with well-draining soil for best performance.

How tall and wide does Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage grow at maturity?

Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage reaches 18-24 inches tall and wide at maturity, staying more compact than traditional Russian Sage varieties. Its mounded, upright form won't flop in wind or rain, making it perfect for front borders or containers. Shop at Nature Hills for this Proven Winners selection.

How often should I water Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage?

Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage is drought-tolerant once established and prefers infrequent, deep watering. Water newly planted sage regularly the first season, then reduce to only during extended dry periods. Overwatering can cause root rot in this hardy perennial.

How should I prune this plant?

Cut Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage back to 6-8 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. This woody perennial benefits from hard pruning to maintain its compact form and encourage vigorous blooming. Deadhead spent flowers during the growing season to extend the bloom period.

Does it attract hummingbirds?

Yes, Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage attracts hummingbirds with its nectar-rich amethyst-blue flowers that bloom from early summer through fall. The long blooming period provides a reliable food source for hummingbirds throughout the season. Plant it in a sunny spot in zones 4-9 for best results, available at naturehills.com.

Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage

Salvia yangii 'Denim 'n Lace'