Jerusalem Sage
An underutilized but very tough and useful shrub for our climate, Jerusalem Sage hails from around the Mediterranean basin and is a supremely drought tolerant, easy to grow evergreen shrub. The flowers that appear in late spring are beloved by the bees and other pollinators and also by humans for the sweet nectar that can be enjoyed from the base of the flower petals. Creates a dense canopy that will drop leaf litter and inhibit weeds from germinating beneath it. Very useful in the xeric garden or on hot, dry slopes where you want a nice cover but don’t want to worry about weeding.
Latin Name: Phlomis fruticosa
Site and Soil: Well draining, unamended soils in full sun
Hardiness: Hardy to about 5 F.
Size at Maturity: 3-4′ tall by 4-5′ wide
Bloom Time: late spring-early summer
Pests & Diseases: None that we have observed
USDA Zone: 7b