How did this turn out? Did it recover? I planted Russian Sage last Spring and it's trying to eat the house. I'm going to have to move it to where there's more room. It's a bit floppy but I think I can work with that in another spot. I believe they like lean soil and lots of heat (up here in in zone 5, anyway)

They died. I pulled them out and planted something else

They tend to like lean soil, and your soil may have too much clay in NOVA.

I'll be interested to see if mine come back this year. They were new to me last season, and I kept moving them around, even kind of late into the fall. So, won't be surprised if they don't, but if they do all the better. Otherwise, I'll pick up a few new ones this year, I did really enjoy them.

I've kept them alive in my NOVA clay but the color is washed out here. The nicest perovskia I've seen were in Colorado and New Mexico.