Hardy Jerusalem Sage

Hardy Jerusalem sage (Phlomis russeliana), also called Turkish sage, is a clump-forming perennial with rough, gray-green leaves and upright, square flower stems. Its hooded yellow flowers appear in whorls and the dry stems can remain decorative after blooming. ## Form and flowering The RHS describes flowering from late spring to autumn and gives mature dimensions of about 1 to 1.5 metres tall by 0.5 to 1 metre wide. Cambridge University Botanic Garden reports stems reaching about 100 centimetres and notes that the plant grows well in sunny positions, even in poor soil. These profiles provide different size estimates, so allow space for a broad, upright clump. [RHS profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/12705/phlomis-russeliana/details) · [Cambridge University Botanic Garden](https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/the-garden/plant-list/phlomis-russeliana/) ## Growing conditions Choose full sun and well-drained soil; loam, sand, or chalk are suitable according to the RHS. The Cambridge Botanic Garden notes that this species thrives in poor soils in a sunny position. Use it in a mixed border or naturalistic planting where the flower spikes and persistent seed heads can be seen. ## Maintenance Leave the stems standing through winter if their structure is useful, then remove untidy growth when needed. No USDA zone range is stated here; plant hardiness depends on local winter conditions.