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Herbaceous Perennial

Phlomis samia L.

Greek Jerusalem sage

A clump-forming perennial with rough-textured, heart-shaped and long, dark green leaves and, unusually, foliage is not hairy nor silvery grey. Whorls of soft mauve-pink flowers shoot up in spring flowering all through summer. Seedheads can offer structural interest in winter and also attract wildlife

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous or Semi evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Phlomis can be herbaceous perennials or evergreen shrubs, with sage-like leaves and whorls of tubular, hooded flowers over a long period in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Slovenia to Turkey

How to grow

Cultivation

Will grow nicely in fertile well-drained soil in full sun but prefering partial shade and moist soils

Propagation

Propagate by division and seed in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back to the ground as the foliage dies down, flower heads can be left until spring for winter interest if upright

Pests

May be susceptible to leafhoppers

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

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