Little Spire Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire')
per-OV-skee-ah at-trih-pliss-ih-FOE-lee-ah 'Little Spire'

Deciduous Perennial in the Lamiaceae Family
A compact, bushy selection of Russian sage with the same airy violet-blue summer bloom and aromatic silver foliage in a smaller, border-friendly size.

'Little Spire' is a compact selection of Russian sage, patented in 2000 (US PP11,643) by Dutch breeder Herbert Oudshoorn. It forms a bushy, upright mound of finely dissected, aromatic, pewter-silver foliage topped with dark violet-blue flower spikes from midsummer into fall -- the same heat- and drought-tolerant character as full-size Russian sage in a size better suited to smaller borders and front-of-bed plantings. It prefers full sun and lean, well-drained soil and dislikes wet conditions.

Pros

  • Compact, bushy habit well-suited to smaller gardens and borders.
  • Weeks of airy violet-blue bloom in late summer.
  • Outstanding heat and drought tolerance once established.
  • Aromatic, deer- and rabbit-resistant silvery foliage.

Cons

  • Dislikes wet or heavy soil, especially over winter.
  • Resents being divided or moved once established.
  • Slow to show new growth in spring -- easy to mistake dormant plants for dead.
Highlights The classic Russian sage look -- airy violet-blue bloom over aromatic silver foliage -- in a compact size that fits smaller borders and front-of-bed plantings.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 30 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
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 Midsummer into fall, peak August-September
Flower Color Dark violet-blue
Foliage Color Silvery Gray-Green
 

Awards
 

More Info from Experts

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...

Calamint, Uptick Cream & Red Tickseed
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 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!