Lavender, Russian Sage, and Catmint
Three common non-native flowers in Colorado look pretty similar to me (I’m sure trained botanists disagree!). Anyways, here’s more about these three plants, how to tell them apart, and the difference between non-native and invasive plants.
About the Plants
Lavender
Lavender is not native to North America; it is native to India and the Middle East, and was brought to North America by Spanish colonizers. It has a cultural and medicinal history stretching back 2,500 years, with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, among others. It is also commonly used to relieve stress and anxiety.
Lavender has narrow leaves and grows in a shrub-like form, with soft purple flowers growing on tall stems. There are many different varieties of lavender, and the colors may vary from - well, lavender - to violet, pink, blue, and white.
Lavender makes a beautiful ornamental plant - for more information on how to grow this plant in Colorado, see “Growing Lavender in Colorado” (Kimbrough & Swift, CSU Extension). Plus, bees adore lavender!
Russian Sage
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a blue-green shrub with silvery-purple flowers. Its leaves are “finely cut” and resistant to deer browsing. Despite its name, Russian Sage is not a sage (Salvia family); it is more closely related to mint, which is evident through its squared stems.
Russian Sage is not considered a Colorado wildflower - it is actually not native to North America, as it was imported from central Asia, where it is native. However, this plant thrives in Colorado’s “high, dry climate, bright sunlight,” and well-drained alkaline soils. It can even be planted in Colorado xeriscapes.
Catmint
Catmint, native to Asia, Europe, and eastern tropical Africa, is another plant that thrives in Colorado. It requires sunny conditions and dry, well-drained soil. This plant is distinctive for its “fuzzy, aromatic green-gray to medium green leaves with scalloped edges” (Anne Balogh, Garden Design). Like the other plants in this post, it has tall stems decorated with purple flowers.
Catmint is resistant to browsing from deer and rabbits, but bees love it - and, so do hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies! Catmint is also a great plant for xeriscapes.
Is catmint the same as catnip? No, but they are related (they are both in the Nepeta family). Cats do enjoy catmint, but do not become fixated on it like they do with catnip.
Non-Native vs. Invasive
As described in this post, lavender, Russian sage, and catmint are not native to North America (lavender, Russian sage, catmint). However, they are also not considered to be invasive plants, which are defined as introduced species that negatively impact native species, often through outcompeting or aggressive spreading. So, not only are these three plants not invasive, they have been observed to provide certain benefits to the environment:
“According to botanical technologist Carolyn Miller, lavender, despite being non-native, is neither aggressive nor invasive. It serves as a natural pollinator for bees.”
Ava Zanglin, Fox47 News
A popular gardening website even described catmint species as “well-behaved garden plants,” meaning that they are not aggressive spreaders and require little maintenance in the right conditions.
Based on all of these factors, it is a great idea to plant these three plants in your Colorado gardens - just research the specific cultivars you are interested in and do still include native plants!
Although lavender, Russian sage, and catmint are not native to North America, they are not invasive and they all make great choices for landscaping (including xeriscaping) in Colorado. They do not generally outcompete native species or spread aggressively; they are beneficial to pollinators; and they require very little water and thrive in Colorado’s climate. Please do still plant native plants in addition to these three, but enjoy them in your gardens!
Differentiating These Plants
Summary
Lavender, Russian sage, and catmint are all…
upright, shrub-like plants with purple flowers;
“bee-loved” by pollinators; and
well-suited to dry soils and lots of sunlight.
You can primarily use their leaf and flower shapes to differentiate them:
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Close-Ups: Differentiating Leaves
Photo Credit (left to right): Lavender, Maia C., Flickr; Russian Sage, famartin, Wikimedia Commons; Catmint, PlantNet
Close-Ups: Differentiating Flowers
Photo Credit (left to right): Lavender, Lesley B., Flickr; Russian Sage, Wikimedia Commons; Catmint, greyloch, Flickr
