Plant of the Month – April
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Jerusalem Sage
Phlomis fruticosa
This drought-tolerant, sage-like plant attracts butterflies with its bright flowers, which also make great cut flowers in bouquets.
- Plant Form: Evergreen Shrub
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 4’ tall & wide
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Bloom Time: Spring – Summer (April – Aug)
- Native to: Mediterranean region, Europe
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 10°F
Jerusalem Sage forms a large mound of wooly leaves, with whorls of butter-yellow flowers skewered in tiers on long spikes. The velvety leaves have a sage-like appearance, but lack the aroma and taste of true sages. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers, adding good habitat to your yard. Flowering may be extended throughout the growing season if stems are cut back promptly after flowering. The cut flowers make nice bouquets, and after the flowers fall away, the seedpods create interesting dried arrangements. Flowers allowed to go to seed attract songbirds in fall and winter. While this drought-tolerant shrub tolerates some shade, it may get leggy with too much shade. Jerusalem Sage makes a good accent or specimen plant, but it also works well in borders and containers, or massed in the garden.
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