Yes, they can easily be winter sown from seed and they should flower the first year.

I've never bought from them and their plants are said to be very small but Bluestone Perennials is having a sale WHICH ENDS TONIGHT. I've read good things about their small plants from people who want to fill up a lot of space and will wait for things to spread but, again, I don't have personal experience with them.

If you want them to plant this year instead of waiting until next year it's an option.

It looks like you could get the number you want for about $50.-$60. plus shipping if they have any left.

Between buying things to start seeds, make garden beds and amend soil, containers, plants and everything else included in this gardening venture the money has added up to a level I never imagined. Another $50-$70 isn't anything to sneeze at so it would be understandable if you're willing to wait til next year to have Russian Sage from your own sowing.

Just thought I'd share another option if it suits your situation. :)

Another option is finding a perennial nursery within reasonable driving distance from your home. A nursery about 45 minutes from me is technically only wholesale but they said they'd sell to an individual if I stopped by. They actually have two varieties of Russian Sage on their web site inventory list.

Here is a link that might be useful: Russian Sage Sale

Just noticed you're in zone 6.

If you're in NJ zone 6 as I am the farm nursery I mentioned is Cicconi Farms in Jackson, NJ and they list Russian Sage varieties on their web site Availability List.

They get high marks from people on the NJ Forum.

Link to their site below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cicconi Farms - NJ

The packet for the regular kind says it takes 1 to 4 months to germinate, it may not come up all at once, so I will winter sow mine next year, hope the seed stays ok.

Can't really address your need for so many, but I would never buy that many plants of the same thing if I didn't absolutely have to, but rather propagate my own. They get huge unless you buy the dwarf kind like I saw on Park Seed.

I only need a few for accents anyway. It gets too big and tends to dwarf anything else nearby, plus it tends to lean even in a lot of sun.

Wonder if it starts easily from cuttings?
Linda C

Even though my input is 3 months late, I may have some info for you. My 3' tall R Sage (3 yrs old) has either self-seeded or sent up shoots all around it so next spring I plan to dig up the little ones and plant elswhere. Maybe if you started out with a few and then in a year or two filled in as they multiplied would be an option.
Peggy

I don't know what variety I have but it can be clipped off near the ground after the first hard frost and just placed in a trench, lower end down, where I wanted the new plants. Mine started shooting about the following May and some were blooming by mid July. They were irrigated about once a month through the winter when other perennials were watered.

Yes, they can be started from cuttings. You'll have a little better luck doing this as they break dormancy than at this time of year, in your zone, for no other reason than they would need a protective place to size and develop before the freezes hit.