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Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'
Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'
Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'

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Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'

(Rocketman Russian Sage) A cloud of cool, lavender-blue flowers shoot upward from the fine-leafed, gray-green foliage of Salvia yangii ‘Rocketman’. This is a shorter, more upright form of Russian Sage, which was known botanically as Perovskia atriplicifolia until 2019 when the species was reclassified as a Salvia.

Common name This is the non-scientific name used for a plant. A plant may have several common names, depending on the gardener's location. To further confuse the matter, a common name may be shared by several completely different plants. At Flowers by the Sea, we rely on the scientific name to identify our plants and avoid confusion. Rocketman Russian Sage
USDA Zones The U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones indicate the temperature zones where a plant is likely to thrive. It is determined by the average annual winter minimum temperature. Actual winter temperatures may be higher or lower than the average. 4 - 9
Size (h/w/fh) The anticipated mature size of the plant: Height, Width & Flower Height. 12"/36"/36"
Exposure This is the average amount of sunlight that a plant needs to thrive. Generally, full sun exposure is 6 or more hours of direct sun daily while partial shade is less than 4 hours of sun or dappled shade all day. Plants may tolerate more sunlight in cooler climates and need afternoon shade in extremely hot climates. Full sun
Soil type This is the kind of soil that a plant needs to thrive. Most plants require a well-drained soil that allows the water to soak into the soil without becoming soggy. Sandy and clay soils can be improved by digging in compost to improve drainage. Any well drained
Water needs Plants have specific water requirements. Water loving means the plant needs regular watering to keep the soil moist. Average generally indicates applying 1 inch of water per week, or watering when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. One inch of water is equal to 5 gallons per square yard of soil surface. Drought resistant
Patent # This plant is patented, or a patent application has been filed and is pending and may not be propagated, under U.S. Federal Code, Title 35, Part II, Chapter 15 §161 without a license from the patent holder. PP 27,526
Mature height The mature height of this plant in average conditions. 2 to 3 feet
Mature spread The mature width of this plant in average conditions. 2 to 3 feet
Synonym Perovskia atriplicifolia
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  • Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'
Degree of Difficulty
Easy
Degree of Difficulty
This plant is easy to grow in a variety of conditions.
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Blue Tag Plant
This plant is sensitive to overwatering and wet soils.
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(Rocketman Russian Sage) A cloud of cool, lavender-blue flowers shoot upward from the fine-leafed, gray-green foliage of Salvia yangii 'Rocketman'. This is a shorter, more upright form of Russian Sage, which was known botanically as Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Rocketman'until 2019 when the species was reclassified as a Salvia.

From a distance, Rocketman Russian Sage looks like a large lavender shrub. Similar to lavender and many other mint family plants, it is fragrant and tolerates cold, heat, and drought. This long blooming Salvia is lovely as a focal point in a low-water cottage garden or massed as a border along a walkway or boundary. Container planting also works well for Rocketman, which grows rapidly.

Give this sage a location with full sun and well-drained soil (compost, pea gravel, and scoria are good amendments). Once established, it thrives on lean to average supplemental watering depending on local rainfall.

Walters Gardens of Zeeland, Michigan, hybridized Rocketman and introduced it in 2014. British botanist William Griffith (1810 - 1845), who also served the East India Company as a physician and surgeon, collected the first specimen of Russian Sage in Afghanistan. Despite its common name, Salvia yangii is native to Central and Southwest Asia - not Russia - where it is found on hillsides and steppe lands.

Wherever it grows, Salvia yangii 'Rocketman' is a magnet for bees but not deer.