Why I Love Russian Sage as a Cut Flower!

In my August garden: Russian Sage is the superstar.  As soon as temps hit the 90’s & 100’s, Russian Sage takes off….growing up to a foot per week!  Several of mine are taller than me right now, which makes them well over 5 feet tall.  Looking almost identical to lavender ~ but much more drought-resistant, this is a great flower for warm gardens (though somehow, Russian Sage can also survive down to about -20 degrees).  But they’re also surprisingly beautiful as a cut flower!  Here, I’ll explain why I love Russian Sage as a cut flower…

Looking almost identical to lavender, Russian Sage also makes a beautiful cut flower.

If you love lavender, but have a hard time growing it, check out three other plants that look similar to lavender, but are much easier to grow.

 

Russian Sage is one of them!

4 Reasons Why Russian Sage is So Great

I cut this Russian Sage from my garden last OCTOBER!!  And I took this photo today: the flowers are still purple, & have never fallen, which is astounding!

1. It Smells Amazing:  When you cut Russian Sage, you’ll notice it has a very subtle & pleasant earthy, sage-y smell.  But, unlike many other flowers, it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction for most people (unlike Asiatic lilies, etc.).

2. It Lasts Forever!!!  I have an arrangement of Russian Sage in my home (see photo above) that has been there since…..last fall!  And the flowers are still purple!  It has never dropped any purple flowers on my floor (which I still can’t understand).  It has essentially turned itself into a dried flower arrangement, as I’ve never re-added water to the vase.  If you enjoy making dried flower arrangements, or simply want beautiful flowers on a budget: Russian Sage is great, because of how long it lasts.

3. Its Growing Season is SO Long:  In my Zone 6 garden, Russian Sage grows from June – November ~ with pretty purple flowers the entire time.  It’s one of my longest-blooming plants, which is great for creating flower arrangements: you can add these pretty purple stems for months on end.  And Russian Sage works with so many different home & garden styles: from xeriscape (due to its high drought-tolerance) to my favorite, the French country garden.  But it also looks great in modern farmhouse & English cottage gardens.

4. Russian Sage is SO Easy-to-Grow ~ Even Non-Gardeners Won’t Kill It:  This is because Rusian Sage is incredibly drought-tolerant.  Temps in the 100’s?  No problem.  They actually thrive in these kind of hot, dry conditions.  I have a whole field of them growing around one of my bird feeders ~ that I never water.  Which makes Russian Sage great for non-gardeners, or people typically kill every plant they buy! 

It’s VERY hard to kill a Russian Sage.

This cluster of Russian Sage spontaneously seeded around one of my bird feeders (& I never water them)! Proving what an easy, drought-tolerant flower this is to grow.

Why I Love Russian Sage as a Cut Flower