What hardiness zones is Phlomis russeliana suitable for?

Phlomis russeliana is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Phlomis russeliana?

Phlomis russeliana requires Full Sun.

How much water does Phlomis russeliana need?

Phlomis russeliana has Low water needs.

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Perennials

Phlomis russeliana

Jerusalem sage

LamiaceaeAsia

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height36–48 inches (90–120 cm)

Width24–36 inches (60–90 cm)

Maturity3 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 9

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Maintenancevery low

Overview

Phlomis russeliana, commonly called Turkish sage, is a robust herbaceous perennial in the family Lamiaceae, native to dry rocky hillsides, open woodland margins, and scrub in Turkey and Syria. It is one of the most architecturally striking of all sun-tolerant perennials, producing stout, erect, woolly-gray stems 3–4 feet (90–120 cm) tall bearing large, rough-textured, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, gray-green leaves with soft woolly undersides. In early to midsummer, hooded pale to butter-yellow flowers are arranged in dense whorls at regular intervals up the stems, creating the genus's characteristic tiered candelabra effect. After the flowers fade, the whorls of seed-bearing calyces persist on the stiff stems through autumn and winter, providing some of the finest architectural structure in the winter garden. Unlike Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage, a Mediterranean shrub), P. russeliana is fully herbaceous, dying back to the ground in winter and re-emerging reliably in spring. It is drought-tolerant once established, deer-resistant, and thrives in full sun in Pacific Northwest gardens in well-drained soil. A Great Plant Pick for Pacific Northwest gardens.

Native Range

Native to rocky hillsides, dry open woodland margins, steppe edges, and scrub in Turkey and Syria, growing in well-drained, often poor, calcareous to neutral soils in full sun at low to mid elevations. Not native to North America.

Suggested Uses

Turkish sage is outstanding in the hot, dry, sunny border for its bold foliage, tiered summer flowers, and exceptional winter seed-head architecture. The pale yellow whorled flowers combine naturally with Mediterranean-style plantings including lavender, Salvia, Stachys byzantina, and ornamental grasses. The persistent winter silhouettes are among the most valuable of any herbaceous perennial — particularly effective when frosted or in low winter light. Plant in groups of three for maximum visual impact. A Great Plant Pick for Pacific Northwest gardens. Excellent as a long-season structural plant in gravel gardens and dry border conditions.

How to Identify

Turkish sage is identified by its large, rough-textured, heart-shaped to broadly arrow-shaped leaves with gray-green upper surfaces and soft, white-woolly undersides, on stout, woolly, erect stems 3–4 feet (90–120 cm) tall. In early to midsummer, pale to butter-yellow hooded flowers — each approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) long — are arranged in dense whorls at evenly spaced intervals up the stems, creating a distinctive tiered candelabra silhouette. The persistent dried calyces remaining after flowering on stiff, upright stems through winter are a key identification feature and ornamental asset.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 4'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

gray

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Turkish sage blooms in early to midsummer, typically June through July in Pacific Northwest gardens. The hooded pale yellow flowers appear in successive whorls from the base of the stem upward over four to six weeks. After flowering, the persistent calyces dry in place and remain structurally intact on the stiff stems through autumn and winter, providing outstanding architectural interest for five to six months beyond the flowering period.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale to butter-yellow; hooded, in dense whorls at regular intervals up stem; persistent dried calyces in winter

Foliage Description

Large, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, rough-textured, gray-green above; white-woolly beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsandchalkrocky

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2–3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun in well-drained, moderately fertile to poor soil. Turkish sage is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in the dry, warm conditions common in Pacific Northwest summer. It performs poorly in wet, heavy clay soils — excellent drainage is essential. In Pacific Northwest gardens, plant in the hottest, sunniest border position available. Water well during the first season to establish; thereafter irrigation is rarely needed in typical Pacific Northwest conditions. Cut stems back to ground level in late autumn or early spring to make way for new growth. Divide clumps every four to five years in spring to maintain vigor.

Pruning

Leave the dried flower and seed-head stems standing through autumn and winter — they provide exceptional architectural structure and are valuable for wildlife. Cut all stems back to ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. New shoots appear from the base in spring. No summer pruning is required.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic