I got the Little Spire cultivar, because I'd read somewhere that they're more upright and not likely to flop. Well, 2 out of my 3 Little Spires flopped for me! But I don't care because they're so beautiful in the late summer/autumn garden, covered in little blue flowers. They're bee magnets! The big, gentle bees that don't bother people. They're supposed to attract butterflies, too, but only the bees were interested in my garden. And it smells great, similar to culinary sage.

I think they'd do better (that is, not flop) in a *very* well draining sandy soil. I have clay that I amend with compost/leaf mold. I can't amend with sand, because it turns to concrete. Next time, I'm going to try amending with some perlite, and see if that leads to less flopping.

Reply to this comment

I used to grow this Russian Sage, 'Little Spire', as I thought it wouldn't take as much space up in the garden. I must have had it in too fertile of a soil, because it spread a little more than I wanted it to, so I got rid of it.

I've thought about growing it again and being watchful of the soil it's in, so I can enjoy this wonderful plant! I love the scent and it's beautiful in the garden. Worthy of a place in the garden!

Reply to this comment