Russian Sage: Drought-Tough, Deer-Resistant Beauty for Low-Water Landscapes

Russian sage (Perovskia) is a staple in low-water intermountain gardens. Ann Seymour of Colorado Springs uses it in her hottest, driest hillside spot, where tiny lavender-blue flowers form a cooling haze over frosty gray leaves from midsummer to fall. Bees love it; deer ignore it. Companions include magenta rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) and white Tanacetum niveum daisies.

Why It Works

• Cold-hardy (Sunset zones 2–3).
• Drought-tolerant—Seymour waters only twice monthly in summer.
• Tolerates poor soil if well-drained.

Maintenance

Cut stems back to a few inches above ground in late winter for tidy, vigorous regrowth.