Russian sage

noun

: an upright Asian subshrub (Perovskia atriplicifolia) of the mint family that is grown as an ornamental for its long narrow panicles of violet-blue flowers and grayish-green stems and leaves

Examples of Russian sage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For a cat-proof garden, grow plants with prickly stems and leaves, like squash, globe thistle, and sea holly, or plant strongly scented herbs, such as lemon thyme, Russian sage, rosemary, and rue. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2024 Many sage plants, like Russian sage, are intended to be ornamental. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2024 Cut Russian sage to the ground in spring (leave a few inches up to a foot or so) to make room for another season of growth and bloom. Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024 Full sun Soil Type: Well-draining Soil pH: 5.5-6.5 (slightly acidic) Salvia is a huge genus of plants that includes annuals like scarlet sage and perennials like Russian sage; some start to bloom in spring and others later in summer. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024 The backyard blooms with several varieties of hydrangea, along with Russian sage, Rose of Sharon, elderberry bushes, crepe myrtle, weeping pine, and monkey puzzle trees. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2023 The plantings include cornflowers, irises, and Russian sage. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2023 These would include catmint, monarda, lavender, perennial salvia, creeping thyme, allium, Russian sage, agastache, and yarrow. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023 There are aromatic herbs like rosemary and Russian sage as well as fruit trees and bushes like strawberry and bottlebrush. Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Russian sage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Russian sage was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near Russian sage

Cite this Entry

“Russian sage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian%20sage. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!