Common Name: turkish sage
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Native Range: Southwestern Asia
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Pale yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy, Good Cut, Good Dried
Leaf: Fragrant
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer
Culture
Easily grown in organically rich, fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Prefers sandy soils with excellent drainage. Plants tolerate dry soil conditions in cool summer climates, but generally appreciate some regular moisture in hot summer climates. Avoid wet soils. Plants spread quickly by rhizomes, without being invasive, to form a weed-suppressing ground cover.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Phlomis russeliana, commonly called Turkish sage or Jerusalem sage, is an upright herbaceous perennial of the mint family that is native to open woods and clearings in Turkey and Syria. It typically grows to 3' tall and to 2' wide. Bold, rough-textured, aromatic, broad-ovate, sage-like, gray-green basal leaves (to 6-8" long) with cordate bases grow to 15" tall. Tiny, tubular, hooded, 2-lipped, pale yellow flowers in whorled clusters bloom from July to September at intervals along columnar 4-angled flowering stems which rise well above the basal foliage to 2-3' tall. Flower clusters give way in late summer to ornamental seed heads which remain attractive throughout fall into winter. Flowers are attractive as cut flowers or for dry arrangements.
Genus name comes from the Greek name phlomis for some plant possibly not of this genus.
Specific epithet honors John Russell (1766-1839). He was the 6th Duke of Bedford (England) and a zealous promoter or botany, gardening, forestry and agriculture.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Although somewhat coarse, it is an excellent vertical flowering plant for dry sunny areas. Borders. Meadows. Cottage gardens. Wild gardens.