Phlomis fruticosa, the Jerusalem sage,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Monte Negro and Turkey.

Phlomis fruticosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Phlomis
Species:
P. fruticosa
Binomial name
Phlomis fruticosa

It is a small evergreen shrub, up to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. The sage-like, aromatic leaves are oval, 5–10 cm (2-4ins) long, wrinkled, grey-green with white undersides, and covered with fine hairs. Deep yellow, tubular flowers, 3 cm in length, grow in whorls of 20 in short spikes in summer.[2]

The specific epithet fruticosa means "shrubby".[3]

It is popular as an ornamental plant, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][5]

As a garden escape, it has naturalised in parts of South West England.[6]

It is listed as deer resistant,[citation needed] hardy in zones 7 to 11,[citation needed] and tolerant of a range of soil types.

See also

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  • Phlomis russeliana – the similar-looking Turkish sage also sometimes called Jerusalem sage

References

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  1. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  4. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Phlomis fruticosa". Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 76. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ Trees and shrubs hardy in the British Isles, edn 8, III. N-Rh. John Murray. 1976.
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