There are some plantings of Russian sage in my area and I notice new growth springing up here and there. I thought of transplanting some of these in my yard. Although I like the looks of the Russian sage individual plantings, I'm concerned that it might spread readily. Can you tell me if this plant may become a nuisance, spreading where I don't want it?

Hi Hengarden, to NGA

I can guarantee that it will get out of hand. My neighbor has a few in her yard and I spend most of my summer pulling up seedlings.

My daughter did fieldwork in northeast Idaho (Spencer High Point) a few years ago - I was her field partner. The (equivalent of) agricultural department was offering a bounty to anyone who brought them Russian Sage from that area. One of our destinations was Morgan Crater - I got into a patch of Russian Sage and came away with about 15 bee stings. I spent most of my summer for two years in a row getting stung by bees or hornets.

But that's not the problem with Russian Sage, it is highly invasive and is taking over habitat that native plants once occupied. I don't see anything anymore about bounties on Russian Sage but be prepared for a lot of 'weed' pulling.

Where in southeast Idaho are you? My daughter graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello with a Master's in Geology.

Daisy