Phlomis fruticosa

Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem Sage, is a bushy medium-sized hardy shrub with soft foliage and exotic clusters of golden-yellow hooded flowers that form attractive encircling coronets on tall flower-spikes. The aromatic leaves are oval-shaped and greyish-green with fine white hairs on the undersides and together with the eye-catching sculptural whorls of the flowers create an understated yet very unusual shrub that elicits memories of the Mediterranean. In time the stems become thick and woody and create great planting combinations with other Mediterranean flora.

Not surprisingly, Phlomis fruticosa is very drought-tolerant and does well in long dry summers should we ever be lucky enough to get them. It appreciates good drainage and although it will put up with a poor soil it will grow more lush when given a rich but well-drained substrate.

Like all Phlomis species, Jerusalem Sage is very pollinator-friendly and the bees keep visiting it all summer long.

In autumn it can either be cut back hard or the old flower-heads can be left to create skeletal points of interest in the grey days of winter.