Russian salvia is a fellow member of the mint syndicate . The deciduous subshrub has silvern - gray leaves that give off a pungent smell when they are hurt of crushed , Late in the develop season , the plant life grows spires of small , tube - forge lavender flowers . The flowers bloom for two or three months before falling off . Russian sage can stomach drought better than it can deal with wet condition . It mature best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 8 but can also survive in Zones 5 and 9 .
Russian salvia arise in a overspread form , which make division and transplantation sometimes necessary . transplantation it in the spring , just as growth is about to begin .
Step 1
rationalize back Russian sage plant life in the bound to produce a less floppy , more compact works . employ the shears to cut them down to a height of about 6 inches marvelous .
Step 2
Dig around the basis of the plant life , far enough off from the plant to allow elbow room for the roots . grasp cautiously and if you see roots , pull the shovel out and move it further away from the plant .
Step 3
lightly knead the flora loose from the background , preserving the roots . Shake the plant out to get free of as much dirt as possible .
Step 4
Divide the Russian salvia by pulling the ascendent asunder lightly . The plant ’s roots are usually very twine , so spend time untangling them . disunite the industrial plant into two or three .
Step 5
Soak the antecedent lump in a container full of water to keep them moist during the transplant process .
Step 6
Choose a new planting location that is in the full sunshine . This is where Russian salvia maturate best . prod a hollow that is as across-the-board and deep as the transplant ’s root mass . place holes 18 inches apart if you ’re planting more than one .
Step 7
Set the Russian sage in the pith of the fix , so that the flora is as deep as it was before you dug it up . You should be able to see a soil line on the plant , just above the ancestor .
Step 8
Shovel grime around the antecedent and tamp it down to remove air pockets . Add a 1- to 2 - column inch layer of mulch around the fundament of the plant . H2O exhaustively .
Tip
Wear gloves as protection when you transplant a Russian salvia .
Warning
Do not found Russian salvia in heavy clay , wet dirt . It can cause root rot .
