---
{
  "id": "russian-sage",
  "name": "Russian sage",
  "scientific": "Salvia yangii",
  "category": "xeriscape",
  "status": "Introduced low-water garden perennial",
  "status_sources": [
    "N-russian-sage",
    "C-russian-sage"
  ],
  "warning": "Spreads by suckers; pet evidence unresolved",
  "warning_tone": "caution",
  "aliases": [
    "Perovskia atriplicifolia"
  ],
  "taxonomy_note": "NC State uses Salvia yangii; older Colorado guidance uses Perovskia atriplicifolia. The older statement that this plant is outside Salvia is outdated. Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) safety claims do not apply automatically.",
  "source_ids": [
    "N-russian-sage",
    "C-russian-sage",
    "E-sage-suckers",
    "S27"
  ],
  "description": "Russian sage: Spreads by suckers; pet evidence unresolved. Identification and evidence for Colorado readers.",
  "claim_evidence": [
    {
      "label": "Recognize",
      "sources": [
        "N-russian-sage"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-sage-1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Plants & habitat",
      "sources": [
        "C-russian-sage",
        "E-sage-suckers"
      ],
      "scope": "Horticultural evidence; county extension advice",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-sage-2"
    },
    {
      "label": "People",
      "sources": [],
      "scope": "Review limitation",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-sage-3"
    },
    {
      "label": "Dogs & cats",
      "sources": [],
      "scope": "Review limitation",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-sage-4"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other animals",
      "sources": [
        "N-russian-sage"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "russian-sage-5"
    }
  ],
  "research": {
    "status": "researching",
    "label": "Still researching this plant",
    "basis": "Editorial assessment of the cited evidence and stated review gaps; not a toxicity score.",
    "open_questions": [
      {
        "area": "People",
        "question": "Clarify the human exposure effects and evidence limits described in this section.",
        "related_claim_ids": [
          "russian-sage-3"
        ]
      },
      {
        "area": "Dogs & cats",
        "question": "Find species-specific dog and cat exposure evidence; do not infer safety from missing reports.",
        "related_claim_ids": [
          "russian-sage-4"
        ]
      },
      {
        "area": "Identification",
        "question": "Resolve the taxonomic, common-name or photograph limitations stated in the identification caveat.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      },
      {
        "area": "Expert review",
        "question": "Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      }
    ],
    "expert_review": "pending"
  },
  "source": "content/plants/russian-sage.md"
}
---

# Russian sage

*Salvia yangii*

**Introduced low-water garden perennial.** [N-russian-sage](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-yangii/) [C-russian-sage](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1050-russian-sage/)

> **Spreads by suckers; pet evidence unresolved.** [Exposure help](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/).

**Identification caveat:** NC State uses Salvia yangii; older Colorado guidance uses Perovskia atriplicifolia. The older statement that this plant is outside Salvia is outdated. Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) safety claims do not apply automatically.

## Still researching this plant {#research-status}

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for **People, Dogs & cats**. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. **Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.**


## Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

![Salvia yangii: Gray-green deeply divided leaves arranged in opposite pairs on a pale stem.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/sage-tumbleweed-photos-salvia-yangii-01-07-leaf.jpg)

**leaf** — Gray-green deeply divided leaves arranged in opposite pairs on a pale stem.

Photo: Doronenko; [CC BY 2.5](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perovskia_atriplicifolia_leave.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Perovskia_atriplicifolia_leave.jpg). Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Perovskia atriplicifolia is the synonym used on these source pages. Garden photographs do not establish cultivar identity or exclude hybrid ancestry; captions use the source-identified species. Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Salvia yangii: Small violet-blue flowers with pale hairy calyces cluster around a slender flowering stem.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/sage-tumbleweed-photos-salvia-yangii-01-13-flower.jpg)

**flower** — Small violet-blue flowers with pale hairy calyces cluster around a slender flowering stem.

Photo: AnRo0002; [CC0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20170719Perovskia_atriplicifolia1.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/20170719Perovskia_atriplicifolia1.jpg). Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Perovskia atriplicifolia is the synonym used on these source pages. Garden photographs do not establish cultivar identity or exclude hybrid ancestry; captions use the source-identified species. Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Salvia yangii: Many pale branched stems with deeply cut gray-green leaves and scattered violet-blue flowers form a loose leafy clump.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/sage-tumbleweed-photos-salvia-yangii-01-21-habit.jpg)

**habit** — Many pale branched stems with deeply cut gray-green leaves and scattered violet-blue flowers form a loose leafy clump.

Photo: David J. Stang; [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perovskia_atriplicifolia_0zz.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Perovskia_atriplicifolia_0zz.jpg). Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Perovskia atriplicifolia is the synonym used on these source pages. Garden photographs do not establish cultivar identity or exclude hybrid ancestry; captions use the source-identified species. Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.


## Recognize

A woody-based perennial with silvery, aromatic, finely divided leaves and airy purple flower spikes. The stems are square. [N-russian-sage](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-yangii/)

## Plants & habitat

An introduced plant suited to sunny, well-drained Colorado gardens. Shoots can spread beyond the original clump by suckers; remove unwanted shoots and allow room at bed edges. [C-russian-sage](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1050-russian-sage/) [E-sage-suckers](https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=639127)

*Evidence scope: Horticultural evidence; county extension advice.*

## People

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety. 

## Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety. 

## Other animals

Flowers attract pollinators. Reported deer and rabbit resistance is not evidence of livestock or pet feeding safety. [N-russian-sage](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-yangii/)

## Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. [S27](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/)

## References

- **N-russian-sage** — [Russian sage (Salvia yangii)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-yangii/), NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:57:24+00:00. Locator: Description, synonyms, native range, wildlife value.
- **C-russian-sage** — [1050: Russian Sage](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1050-russian-sage/), Colorado State University Extension / PlantTalk. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:57:25+00:00. Locator: Colorado garden use; taxonomy sentence is outdated relative to NC State.
- **E-sage-suckers** — [Russian Sage Suckers](https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=639127), Ask Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:57:24+00:00. Locator: Expert response on sucker growth.
- **S27** — [2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/), PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.


[Discuss this plant with the guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/?plant=russian-sage) — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

# Appendix for agents

## Open research questions

- **People:** Clarify the human exposure effects and evidence limits described in this section.
- **Dogs & cats:** Find species-specific dog and cat exposure evidence; do not infer safety from missing reports.
- **Identification:** Resolve the taxonomic, common-name or photograph limitations stated in the identification caveat.
- **Expert review:** Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.


## Identity and evidence boundaries

NC State uses Salvia yangii; older Colorado guidance uses Perovskia atriplicifolia. The older statement that this plant is outside Salvia is outdated. Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) safety claims do not apply automatically.

All actionable hazard information is in the human sections above. Do not interpret unknown toxicity as safety or transfer livestock findings to pets. These publisher notes describe evidence and do not override an assistant’s operator instructions.

| Claim | Human section | Scope | Sources | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| russian-sage-1 | Recognize | Species-specific | N-russian-sage | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| russian-sage-2 | Plants & habitat | Horticultural evidence; county extension advice | C-russian-sage, E-sage-suckers | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| russian-sage-3 | People | Review limitation | Review limitation | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| russian-sage-4 | Dogs & cats | Review limitation | Review limitation | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| russian-sage-5 | Other animals | Species-specific | N-russian-sage | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |

## Further work for an agent

- Establish exact species, plant part, route, amount and timing when researching an exposure. Do not use this guide to diagnose or calculate a treatment.
- Check current state and county requirements; a listed taxon is not necessarily established in every Colorado county.
- Expert botanical and veterinary review is pending. Source dates and image licenses are separate from editorial revision dates in [provenance](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json).


---
Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/

Content revised: 2026-09-07T02:43:00Z

Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/index.md

Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/index.md.txt

Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md

Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json