Practical
Plants

Phlomis fruticosa

Jerusalem Sage

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Phlomis genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Phlomis
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.3 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Can be grown as a low hedge, it is very tolerant of trimming. A good dense ground cover for a sunny sheltered position, though it needs weeding for the first year or so[4].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Dry cliffs and rocky places in limestone hills to 1000 metres[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. It normally germinates quickly in warm weather. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Layering.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil in full sun[1] with shelter from cold winds[5]. Grows well in poor gravelly soils and on hot dry banks[1]. Grows better in the milder areas of Britain[4]. Prefers very little water in the summer. Established plants are drought resistant[3]. Plants are hardy to about -10°c when growing in a well-drained soil[6]. Plants flower most freely on young wood so any pruning is best done in late spring[6]. The leaves, when bruised, emit an aromatic sage-like perfume[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].

References

  1. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  2. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  3. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

  4. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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