Russian Sage (also known as Afghan Sage) is a graceful, soft-wooded shrub with turpentine-aromatic, deeply divided, grey-green leaves that are white on the underside. The slender stems are upright, tall, and pure white. These carry bright violet-blue flowers from mid- to late summer. Perovskia are low-maintenance, and have been used to great effect in gravel gardens, coastal locations and sunny borders under a wall; they dislike too much winter wet. With your own beds and borders, choose a situation that receives full sun or dappled shade. These plants associate well with other silver-foliage plants and lavenders. At the end of the growing year, it is a good idea to leave the attractive white stems, to provide some useful winter interest. However, just before growth re-starts in spring, you should cut the stems back to about 20cm from the ground; the tops of the stems will die back naturally, and if left in position, will become untidy and unsightly!