Perovskia 'BLUE SPIRE' perovskia, Russian sage
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,6-1,2m
usual width
0,5-1m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
July-September
location
full sun
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Description of the plant:
Blue Spire is a hybrid between two types of perovskia. It was first introduced to RHS in 1961 and since late 80´s it has been in cultivation in most of the world with mild climate. It is a very hardy plant originally found in Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan) but is successfully grown even further north. Perovskia is a fantastic plant offering an extremely long time of attractivity. It bears profusion of indigo-blue flowers that open up from hairy, violet buds. These buds appear from early summer and take quite some time before they let the flowers out which usually happens from mid August. Thus the plant keeps its fluffy violet appearance for as long as nearly 3 months.
Leaves are deeply lobed but narrow, blue-green, and the stalks are silvery blue. They grow about 1m tall and the plant can get as wide with age. Perovskia does resemble lavender but offers a much longer flowering time and is able to survive lower temperatures in winter. This makes it a great choice for any garden from the south up well north.
Grow it in full sun and preferably not too fertile soil with good drainage that will enable the plant survive wet winters. After making an extensive root system it is quite draught tolerant. Cut back to about one third or one fourth of last year's growth every spring to keep the base strong and to make it produce more flowering stems. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4).
Last update 30-08-2009
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
