Little Spire Russian Sage
Salvia yangii 'Little Spire'
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Specifications
| Plant Characteristics | Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Fragrant, Deer-resistant, Attracts pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Container Friendly |
|---|---|
| Hardiness Zone | 5a to 9b |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Watering Needs | Low |
| Preferred Soil | Loamy, Sandy |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Growth Habit | Compact, Upright |
| Plant Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Blooms In | Fall, Summer |
| Flower Color | Blue |
| Fragrant | Yes |
| Suitable Space | Outdoors, Indoors |
| Botanical Name | |
| Species | |
| Cultivar | |
| Class | Lamiales |
| Does Not Ship To | AK, HI, ID, MT, PR |
Description
Perfect purple spikes on a compact perennial plant! This award-winning little plant will make a huge splash in your landscape. The Little Spire Russian Sage (Salvia yangii 'Little Spire' formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire') is an exciting newer variety to the time-tested Ornamental Sage family!
The lavender purple spikes are butterfly magnets, but the deer won't touch them. Since it is a member of the Mint family, just like culinary Sage, the gray-green leaves are very aromatic when you brush against them, with a kitchen-spice scent. Plus you will enjoy flowers all summer and lasting until autumn! That’s plenty of blooms for your butterflies, bees, and bouquets!
Little Spire is a nice alternative if you have trouble growing Lavender where you live. Cold and heat-hardy throughout a wide range of USDA planting zones 4 to 9, Little Spire is very low-maintenance and even high on fire-wise landscaping plans. But deer and rabbits seldom bother with Russian Sage!
Planting and Application:
Little Spire may not get very big but it is the perfect space-saving size to fill in spots in your sunny border or foundation planting! It looks great next to a wall or fence when combined with pink or yellow flowers. A dark evergreen hedge will become the perfect backdrop!
Try adding Little Spire with other Russian Sage plants! Or among other drought-tolerant perennials like Pink Double Delight Condeeflowers or Yellow Herbstonne Black-Eyed Susans for an instant eye-catching combo of color and texture! Ornamental Sage and Ornamental Grass go hand in hand!
Mix in with prairie plantings, pollinator borders, xeric mass plantings, and the hot and sunny Rock Garden for an airy, fine-textured element! The purple finery looks gorgeous among other purple plants, variegated greenery, and silver foliage plants in the Cottage Garden and mixed perennial border! Russian Sage tolerates salt spray, so use it along your street plantings and driveway!
Try planting Little Spire along a pathway to really enjoy the fragrant foliage aspect. This compact perennial is ideal for those hot, sunny balconies, porches, and patio container gardens! Try potting up a few in half whiskey barrels or upscale urns and place them around your seating areas to enjoy their waving wands and fragrance.
- Fragrant Airy Purple Spires
- Aromatic Gray Green Foliage
- Compact Space-Saving Mounds
- Great For Pollinators & Hummingbirds
- Back-to-Middle of the Garden, Border Plant, Containers & Xeric Mass Plantings
#ProPlantTips for Care:
All Russian Sage 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. This easy-to-grow perennial thrives in the heat!
However, excessive water, too little sun, or soil with poor drainage will cause Russian Sage to fall flat. 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. Tolerating periodic drought, Sages flower best when they receive an even amount of water on a regular basis when young. With good drainage and plenty of sun, this water-wise plant is a flower machine from late spring to the first frost.
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 - Drought Tolerant Once Established
- Prune Early Spring
- Deer Tend to Leave This One Alone
This charming compact Little Spire Russian Sage from Nature Hills, its wonderful purple flowers, will be a big hit in your garden! You don't need to tell anyone how little care it requires! Order some now at Nature Hills!
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping Rates
Ships in 3-5 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
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Very happy to buy the #1 container as the plant looks like it has a great head start!
A good root system from the start really does make a difference with Russian Sage. It settles in fast and tends to reward you with a strong first bloom season. Thanks for sharing your experience, Jennifer, and enjoy watching it fill out!
This is a late-summer bloomer. It actually likes dry, sandy soil and heat. Truly smells like sage when touched. Must be planted in full sun for the best bloom results, not part shade. Will grow fairly tall, up to 4-5 feet when well established. Light and airy blooms
Hi Nifty G.,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insightful experience with the Little Spire Russian Sage! We’re delighted to hear your detailed observations about its late-summer blooming and preference for dry, sandy soil and heat. Your tips about planting it in full sun and expecting tall, light, airy blooms will surely help fellow gardeners get the best results.
If you’re ever looking to enhance its blooming even further, sometimes occasional pruning right after the first sign of blooms can encourage a stronger second bloom late in the season. Also, ensuring well-draining soil complements its natural growth preferences nicely.
We truly appreciate you adding your voice and expertise to our community. Thanks again for helping others appreciate this lovely sage as much as you do!
Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team
I am so happy that I decided to order three of these for a grouping. They make a wonderful cluster of blue-purple in my sunny garden.
Hi Drew,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Little Spire Russian Sage! It’s fantastic to hear that the blue-purple hues make such a vibrant and fragrant addition to your sunny garden. Groupings like yours really highlight the plant's natural beauty and enhance a landscape’s charm.
If you’re interested in keeping your Russian Sage thriving, make sure they're planted in well-drained soil with plenty of sunshine, and avoid overwatering to maintain their delicate branches. Pruning spent blooms can also encourage more blossoming and keep the plants looking their best. We’d be happy to share further tips if you want—just let us know!
Enjoy your flourishing, fragrant clusters!
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
I am so happy that I decided to order three of these for a grouping. They make a wonderful cluster of blue-purple in my sunny garden.
Hi Drew,
Thank you so much for sharing your delightful experience with the Little Spire Russian Sage! We're thrilled to hear that you chose a grouping of three and that they’re bringing a beautiful splash of blue-purple color to your sunny garden. Their lovely fragrance and vibrant blooms truly make them a standout choice for adding both fragrance and visual appeal to any garden space.
If you haven’t already, make sure to enjoy them best by planting in well-drained soil and giving them plenty of sunlight to encourage that rich color and strong growth. Regularly deadheading spent blooms can also promote a longer flowering period, enhancing your fragrant oasis.
We appreciate you trusting us to be part of your gardening journey and hope your “cluster” continues to thrive beautifully!
Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists
Little Spire Russian Sage stands up belter the regular Russian Sage. It does not flop around much and I like that.
Hello Dancing D.,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with the Little Spire Russian Sage! We’re thrilled to hear that it stands tall and strong for you without flopping around—its sturdy growth habit is certainly one of its great qualities. If you ever want to keep it even healthier and looking its best, ensure it has full sun and well-drained soil. Russian sage thrives beautifully in those conditions!
Should you have questions about pruning—which can encourage bushier growth—or feeding, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to support your gardening journey.
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
Little Spire Russian Sage stands up belter the regular Russian Sage. It does not flop around much and I like that.
Dear Dancing duck,
Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with the Little Spire Russian Sage! We’re delighted to hear that this variety stands firm and doesn’t flop around like the regular Russian Sage—that sturdy, upright growth is definitely one of its standout features. For continued strong growth, remember that providing full sun and well-drained soil will really help your plant thrive. If you’re interested, trimming back spent blooms mid-season can also encourage even bushier, more resilient plants.
Thanks again for your thoughtful review—knowing how our plants perform in your garden genuinely helps us and other plant lovers!
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
This is a late-summer bloomer. It actually likes dry, sandy soil and heat. Truly smells like sage when touched. Must be planted in full sun for the best bloom results, not part shade. Will grow fairly tall, up to 4-5 feet when well established. Light and airy blooms
Dear nifty gardener,
Thank you so much for sharing your insightful observations about the Little Spire Russian Sage! We truly appreciate your thoughtful notes on its preferred growing conditions and the reminder that full sun and well-drained, sandy soil really help bring out its beautiful, light blooms. Your hands-on experience—and that wonderful detail about its authentic sage scent—will be invaluable to fellow gardeners looking to get the most from this lovely plant.
If you’re ever interested, you might find success further encouraging blooms by supplementing with occasional deep watering during dry spells while keeping soil well-drained, especially in hotter climates. And don’t forget, allowing the foliage to dry thoroughly can help prevent any potential issues with pulpy aftermath.
Thanks again for sharing your late-summer blooming wisdom!
Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team
