7. Russian Sage (Salvia yangii)
Russian sage produces clouds of tiny, lavender-blue flowers above silvery-gray aromatic stems. Growing between three to five feet tall, it creates a striking backdrop in sunny flower beds while requiring almost no intervention.
- Light Requirements: Full sun
- Watering Needs: Very low once established
- Key Benefit: Exceptionally heat-tolerant and ignored by deer and rabbits.
This plant thrives in hot, dry climates and poor soil. Cut it back to a few inches tall in early spring to stimulate vigorous new stems.
