Jerusalem Sage

An easy care, upright, evergreen shrub with abundant colour. It is so easy going and giving, it should be grown more widely, especially in a dry, sunny spot. Gorgeous in combination with some blue Salvias nearby.

The flowers open in whorls, progressively up the stem. The blooms show off for quite a time, from late spring to summer, from green to rich, golden yellow. With the blooms intermittently opening along the stems, there is a great, massed effect of colour and height from these plants. Remove spent flowers after the main flush to encourage more to grow.

Phlomis russeliana holds the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit, so not only does it look good, it performs well without demanding too much from you. It forms a handsome mound and toughs out trying conditions.

Phlomis are perfect for beds and borders. They are at home in dry gardens and a stunning addition to cottage gardens. They are quick to establish and combine beautifully with ornamental grasses and a whole host of perennials.

Plant Phlomis in moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil – they won’t cope in boggy soils. Water in well, they then become dry tolerant once established. While it is frost hardy through most of Australia, if you get the hard frosts, the leaves are likely to suffer, wait and give it a prune in spring once the new foliage starts to shoot.