Perovskia, also called Afghan sage or Russian sage, is a small bush with attractive aromatic silvery foliage and lavender-blue flowering, light and airy, that lasts all summer. Ideal for adding volume and graphic structure to borders. Easy to grow, hardy, drought- and disease-resistant. Perovskia fits easily into Mediterranean gardens, rockeries or naturalistic plantings, for example in association with grasses or other perennials. Can even be grown in a pot on a sunny terrace. Perovskia is propagated by propagation by cuttings of herbaceous or semi-lignified stems, or by sowing. Discover all our tips to succeed!

For more on cultivation, consult our comprehensive guide : "Perovskia, Afghan sage: planting, pruning and maintenance"

Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian sage

When and how to sow Perovskia?

You can sow Perovskia in autumn or early spring. It is best to refrigerate seeds for about a month before sowing, as this helps and speeds up germination.

  • Prepare a pot by filling it with a light, free-draining growing medium : use seed compost or an even mix of compost and coarse sand.
  • Firm down and level off.
  • Spread seeds on surface.
  • Cover very lightly with a little growing medium.
  • Moisten medium with a spray bottle.
  • Place pot under a cold frame, out of direct sun.
  • Continue to water regularly so medium remains slightly moist (not waterlogged) until germination. Use a spray bottle or a watering can with a rose to apply a fine shower.

You can keep seedlings in a mini greenhouse to retain humidity.

Pot on seedlings into individual pots as soon as large enough to handle. Can plant out in ground the following spring.

Equipment needed for sowing

How to sow Perovskia
To sow Perovskia, fill pots with compost, sow seeds, cover very lightly and water medium, preferably with a spray bottle

When and how to take cuttings of Perovskia?

Herbaceous cuttings

Propagation by cuttings of herbaceous stems is done in spring, around May, before Perovskia begins to flower.

  • Take a stem about 10 cm long, cutting just below a node (point where leaf joins stem) with a sharp, disinfected pruning shear.
  • Remove leaves from base, leaving only a few at top of stem.
  • Prepare a pot by filling it with a mix of compost and coarse sand, then firm down slightly.
  • Water the medium.  
How to take herbaceous cuttings of Perovskia
  • Make a hole in medium with a pencil or stick.  
  • Insert stem into pot.
  • Firm around cutting to ensure good contact between stem and medium and avoid air pockets. 
  • Place cuttings in a bright spot but out of direct sun.
  • Keep medium slightly moist until rooting occurs.
  • Can plant out in ground in autumn or following spring.
Propagate Perovskia by taking herbaceous cuttings

Semi-lignified cuttings

Perovskia can also be propagated by taking semi-lignified cuttings in late summer to early autumn (August–September). Principle is same as for herbaceous cuttings, except use stems that have started to lignify rather than soft green shoots.

  • Using pruning shear, take stems 10–15 cm long, cutting just below a node. Stems should be soft at tip and lignified at base. 
  • Remove leaves from base, leaving only a few at top. If stems bear flowers, remove them: this focuses energy on rooting rather than flowering and seed production. 
Semi-lignified cuttings of Perovskia
  • Prepare pots by filling with a draining mix, for example compost and coarse sand. 
  • Firm down slightly and water. 
  • Make a hole in medium with a pencil. 
  • Replant stem into hole and firm around it.
  • Place pot under cover, in a bright spot but out of direct sun. 
  • Wait for rooting, watering occasionally to keep medium slightly moist.   
Propagate Perovskia by taking semi-lignified cuttings

Equipment needed for propagation by cuttings

Further reading