Denim 'n Lace Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Denim 'n Lace')
per-OV-skee-ah at-trih-pliss-ih-FOE-lee-ah 'Denim 'n Lace'

Deciduous Perennial Upright in the Lamiaceae Family
A 2020 Proven Winners National Perennial of the Year, bred for strong upright stems and lacy sky-blue flowers with amethyst-purple calyces over a long summer-into-fall season.

'Denim 'n Lace' is a full-size Russian sage patented by Walters Gardens breeder Kevin A. Hurd (US PP28,445), selected from seed of 'Lacey Blue' ('LISSLITT'). Named the 2020 Proven Winners National Perennial of the Year, it forms a strong, upright clump of deeply cleft, silvery-green, aromatic foliage topped with lacy sky-blue flowers held in persistent amethyst-purple calyces from mid-July into fall. Bred for notably sturdier, more upright stems than older Russian sage varieties, it resists the sprawling, flopping habit common in this genus.

Pros

  • Award-winning (2020 Proven Winners National Perennial of the Year).
  • Strong, upright stems that resist flopping better than older varieties.
  • About 8 weeks of lacy sky-blue bloom from mid-July into fall.
  • Outstanding heat and drought tolerance; deer- and rabbit-resistant.

Cons

  • Dislikes wet or heavy soil, especially over winter.
  • Full-size habit needs room -- not the choice for a small border.
  • Slow to show new growth in spring -- easy to mistake dormant plants for dead.
Highlights A 2020 Proven Winners National Perennial of the Year -- sturdy, upright Russian sage with about 8 weeks of lacy sky-blue bloom over aromatic silver foliage.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 28 - 32 inches tall. 34 - 38 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Thrives in dry to average, well-drained soil once established; does not tolerate wet or poorly drained soil, especially over winter.
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Dry, Formal Garden, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Non-Allergenic, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Mid-July into fall, about 8 weeks
Flower Color Sky blue with amethyst-purple calyces
Foliage Color Silvery Gray-Green
 

Awards
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Rankings

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennials and grasses such as coneflower, black-eyed Susan, sedum, and little bluestem.

Photos of This with...

Serendipity Ornamental Onion, Surefire Red Begonia, Lo & Behold Purple Haze Butterfly Bush, Heart To Heart Heart's Delight Elephant Ear, Toucan Red Canna, Toucan Scarlet Canna Lily, Red Zip Cabbage Palm, Full Moon Tickseed, Lakota Fire Coneflower, Color Coded The Price Is White Coneflower, Luscious Goldengate Lantana, Ostrich Fern, Morning Light Maiden Grass, Petite Delight Beebalm, Supertunia Bermuda Beach Petunia, Supertunia Black Cherry, Supertunia Bordeaux Petunia, Limoncello Supertunia, Supertunia Vista Bubblegum Petunia, Supertunia Vista Fuchsia, Garden Girls Party Girl Garden Phlox, Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes Salvia, Rockin' Fuchsia Salvia, Lemon Coral Stonecrop, ColorBlaze El Brighto Coleus, Snowstorm Giant Snowflake, Snowstorm Pink Bacopa, Superbena Large Lilac Blue Verbena, Meteor Shower Verbena,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 10/04
2024 : 02/08 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!