| Perovskia atriplicifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Perovskia |
| Species: | P. atriplicifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth. |
|
Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian sage, is a herbaceous perennial plant that is native to central Asia in an area that includes Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Tibet.[1] In spite of the common name, Russian sage is not in the same genus as other Salvias, which are commonly called "sage".
The intense fragrance of Russian sage is similar to some of the true sages. It was a relatively unknown landscaping plant until the 1990s, in spite of being mentioned by well known landscape authors such as Gertrude Jekyll and Russell Page.[2]
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Russian sage grows on upright, grayish white stems that are 1 to 1.3 m (3.3 to 4.3 ft) tall, with lobed, deeply notched silvery-grey leaves that are approximately 5 cm (2.0 in) by 3 cm (1.2 in) wide. Older stems are woody at the base, and younger stems are herbaceous and square in cross section. The stems and leaves give off a pungent odor when crushed or bruised. In late summer and autumn, Russian sage produces spires of small, tubular flowers of blue or lavender colour. These spires may grow up to 30 cm long, and last up to two or three months. Russian sage grows in a clump, up to 1.5 m tall with a spread of up to 60 cm, although cultivars may be smaller. It is considered a sub-shrub.
It requires full sun, but is hardy and cold tolerant. It is also tolerant of dry, chalky soils with a high pH, salt tolerant and drought tolerant.
Popular cultivar 'Blue Spire', which has darker blue flowers, may actually be a hybrid of P. atriplicifolia and P. abrotanoides, although it is typically marketed as P. atriplicifolia.[3]
In its native habitat, the flowers are eaten fresh, and the leaves are smoked like tobacco for its euphoriant properties.[2] It is also used where it grows in Pakistan and Balochistan for dysentery.[4] In Eurasian herbalism, this plant has a long history of use as a febrifuge.[5]
Although research and data is limited, some identified compounds in this plant include thujone, miltirone, oxy-miltirone, tanshinones, camphor, limonene, α-globulol, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, camphene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, γ-cadinene, and α-terpinyl acetate.[6]