Russian sage
A very drought-hardy silvery subshrub from Central Asia; its blue flowers from July to September give honey bees reliable nectar in late summer.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,8-1,2 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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It comes from the dry, stony steppes and mountain foothills of Afghanistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and Central Asia. Long known as Perovskia atriplicifolia, it was moved to the genus Salvia in a 2017 classification and named Salvia yangii. In Europe and Turkey it is a common ornamental in parks, road medians and dry gardens. Honey bees and wild bees visit it regularly.
Flowering
Small lavender-blue flowers open on silvery stems for 8-10 weeks from July to September. Because it stays in flower even in hot, dry and sunny conditions, it bridges the late-summer dearth in unirrigated areas.
Honey and pollen
There is no monofloral honey; in urban beekeeping it contributes to mixed late-summer honeys.
Note for the beekeeper
It suits poor, limy and dry soils; overwatering and shade reduce flowering. Cutting it back in spring to 30-40 cm above the ground gives dense shoots with abundant flowers. Planted with lavender around the apiary, it extends the flow until the end of August.