Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 7, 2015

Perovskia atriplicifolia, commonly called Russian sage, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant and subshrub. Although not a member of the genus of the common sage, it is closely related. It typically reaches 0.5 - 1.2 m tall, with square stems and gray-green leaves that yield a distinctive odor when crushed, but it is best known for its blue or violet blossoms arranged in showy, branched panicles. Native to the steppes and hills of southwestern and central Asia, it was introduced to cultivation by Vasily Perovsky in the 19th century. Several cultivars have been developed; 'Blue Spire' is the most common. The species has a long history of use in its native range in traditional medicine, for a variety of ailments. Its flowers can be eaten in salads or crushed for dyemaking. P. atriplicifolia was the Perennial Plant Association's 1995 Plant of the Year, and the 'Blue Spire' cultivar received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.