Perovskia

Russian sage makes an excellent addition the dry sunny garden, with slender spires of furry blue flowers in autumn. There are around 7 species from central Asia, with aromatic, grey-green, often dissected leaves. Drought tolerant. Treat like fuchsias and cut the shoots down to a low framework in spring. This will encourage strong new shoots.

A late-summer magnet for all manner of bees and hoverflies, the former Perovskia species (as indeed do all Salvias) play a key role in maintaining the supply of nectar and pollen as the season starts to wind down.

All Perovskia have now been renamed under Salvia.