How to Grow Russian Sage in Pots, for a Beautiful, Fragrant Perennial That Pollinators Adore

Russian sage is a statuesque perennial with violet-blue flowers. Gardeners can enjoy the fragrant foliage, and pollinators will relish the nectar-rich blooms in late summer. It is often seen in Mediterranean or drier gardens, but if you only have a small growing space, can Russian sage grow happily in pots?

The answer is yes. You can grow Russian sage in containers on a deck, patio, porch, or balcony. The plant is suitable for US hardiness zones 5-9, but will need protection during winter in colder, northern container gardens when growing in a pot.

If you aspire to grow Russian sage in containers, there are a few finer points you will need to get right to satisfy the finicky perennial. These center around Russian sage’s need for sun and dislike of wet soil, so let’s look at six factors that can make the difference between success and failure when cultivating this wonderful perennial in a pot.

Growing Russian Sage in Pots? Start With Picking the Right Plant for the Job

The best types of Russian Sage for containers are compact varieties, such as ‘Denim ‘n Lace’, which is a compact type that reaches a maximum of three feet. An even smaller option is ‘Little Spire’, which is a dwarf cultivar that grows 18 to 24 inches tall.

You can get a live ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ Russian Sage plant at Nature Hills

You can get a live ‘Little Spire’ Russian Sage plant at Nature Hills

6 Important Factors for Growing Russian Sage in Containers

Grow happy and healthy Russian sage in pots by getting these components right:

1. Choose the Right Container

Russian sage plants have sizeable roots, and that reflects the size of the container you need for them to grow happily. It is advisable to choose a large container at least 16 inches wide and deep, as this size allows the must-have perennial enough space to develop substantial roots.

However, while compact varieties can tolerate that size, you’ll need an even bigger container for larger varieties. Cultivars can grow up to six feet tall and risk toppling over when pots are too small. It may mean that pots may need to be 18-24 inches wide and deep for larger types of Russian sage.

The container can be any material, including terracotta, ceramic, plastic, metal, or wood. There are advantages to ceramic or terracotta pots, in that they are permeable and dry out quickly.

This suits Russian sage, which doesn’t tolerate soggy or waterlogged conditions. To prevent the plant from sitting in excess water, any container must have a drainage hole in the bottom to allow excess moisture to escape.

2. Use the Correct Soil

Russian sage has quite specific soil needs to consider when growing it in a container. As it dislikes sitting with wet roots for extended periods, it is highly likely to rot when planted in poorly draining soil. It means using a well-draining potting mix is vital when growing Russian sage in containers.

A good potting mix for growing Russian Sage in pots is to combine a quality soil for container gardening (like this natural premium potting mix at Burpee) with up to 30% coarse sand or perlite (get Miracle-Gro perlite at Amazon) to boost the drainage.

You should never use garden soil in pots, as it holds lots of moisture and sits far too wet for the liking of Russian Sage. This is a common container gardening mistake made by inexperienced gardeners, and something to always avoid.

3. Give Plants Enough Sun

Russian sage plants want sun and warmth to perform at their best. Place containers in a sunny spot where plants can revel in at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. It will mean the pots will need regular watering, but if you get the sunlight requirements right, the Russian sage will reward you with strong stems and lots of glorious flowers.

One caveat to consider is if your garden is in a very hot hardiness zone. In this circumstance, Russian sage may benefit from being located in a spot with afternoon shade to give it some reprieve from scorching rays.

However, in all other growing zones, full sun is critical. If you place a pot with Russian sage in a part-shade or shady spot, the stems can start to flop, and they won’t produce anywhere near as many blooms.

4. Be Careful With Watering

You do need to be careful with watering Russian sage in containers; it can be a fine line to tread. When growing in the ground, Russian sage is a drought-tolerant perennial that needs minimal watering.

While they can cope with dry conditions better than some other plants, they will need regular watering when growing in pots.

Keep a close eye on the soil and water Russian sage in pots regularly during periods of dry and hot weather.

A soil moisture meter, such as this soil moisture meter at Amazon, can be a helpful tool in judging when to water plants. A simple alternative is to use your fingers when watering plants in containers, and the sign is to water when the top two to three inches of soil feel dry.

When requiring it, give Russian sage a deep watering until it starts to run out of the drainage holes at the bottom. Do not water again until the plant needs it. Overwatering plants will cause root rot and can potentially kill Russian sage.

5. Get the Fertilizing Right

Russian sage doesn’t require lots of nutrients to put on a great display. Indeed, too much fertilizer and an excess of nutrients won’t improve the blooms. Instead, you are likely to get leggy stems and fewer blooms when you overfertilize plants.

A handful of slow-release fertilizer when planting Russian sage into a container can help the plant through its first year in the container.

You can repeat this by adding balanced and slow-release fertiliser each spring going forward, using a product like this organic all-purpose granular plant food at Burpee.

If your Russian sage looks like it needs a pick-me-up in summer, a feed with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer (such as this Miracle-Gro organic plant food, available at Amazon) can provide a quick dose of nutrients. But don’t continue to fertilize throughout the season in the hope of better flowering – less is more for Russian sage.

6. Remember to Overwinter Plants Properly

As previously mentioned, Russian sage is hardy in zones 5-9. If you live towards the colder end of that range, there are two options available. You can grow Russian sage as an annual plant or take steps to overwinter the plant to enjoy it again the following year. The former is a bit wasteful, so I recommend caring for it over winter, especially as it is easy to do.

The simplest way to protect plants from frost is to move the containers to a sheltered, frost-free place in the garden, or bring the plants indoors and keep them in a frost-free garage or shed over winter.

Pots left outdoors for winter can be covered with mulch to protect the roots or wrapped in frost cloth for a protective layer of insulation.

You can also get protective covers for plant pots to shield the roots from cold, like these winter frost protection covers at Amazon, though you may also need to wrap the plant itself when temperatures plummet.

The containers will need to be regularly checked. The soil does not want to dry out completely, so it may need some light watering. But you don’t want to overwater them in winter, as Russian sage dislikes sitting in wet soil over cold winters.

Wherever you grow Russian sage, the plants need to be cut back at the end of each growing season. Some gardeners will do this in the fall, but I recommend holding off and cutting back Russian sage in early spring.

This is because the dried stems provide texture in a winter garden, and the seed heads are a valuable food source for birds during the winter. In late winter or early spring, take your pruning tools and cut the stems back to 6-12 inches above the ground.