[mllejules]

Hi, I recently had my garden landscaped and planted (having been a rectangle of patchy crabgrass and dock and plantain and thistle when I moved in).

The gardeners put in some plants that I don't know. I'm confident I can look after and maintain the garden myself but need to have some identification first!

This plant looks so familiar, I feel like I should know it. It's very silvery, and when flowering the flowers were minute. This spindly, straggly look was present when they first put it in (July 2019) so I assume it's meant to be like that. Bees and flies were moderately attracted to it (though nowhere near as much as the verbena on the other side of the garden!).

Anyone know what it is, so I can figure out how/when to cut it back?

[Silver surfer]

Looks like Perovskia atriplicifolia, common name Russian sage,

https://www.google.com/search?q=perovskia+atriplicifolia&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1x43x5oLnAhWKFcAKHSkOB_AQ_AUoAXoECBIQAw&biw=1920&bih=944

[mllejules]

Thank you, Silver surfer. Mine will look much better when it fills out a bit more!

[Greengage]

And its neither Russian or a sage, When crushed it smells sage like and was discovered by a Russian and introduced into cultivation in I think the 1600s. It originates from central Asia, Afghanistan and Tibet. It is a curious plant in so far as the lower part is shrubby like and quiet woody and the upper parts are herbaceous and soft. it is an excellent garden plant as it has scent and nice flowers and ids very attractive to Bumblebees. Cut it back in late Autumn after it has flowered otherwise it can become quiet leggy.