How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Jerusalem Sage
Jerusalem sage is a flowering shrub that hummingbirds adore, and we do too! Known as Phlomis fruticosa, it has gray foliage and bright yellow flowers, which can also be used in the kitchen as a herb. Sarah Jay will explain this in-depth guide for growing it in your garden.

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Jerusalem sage is a lovely semi-perennial, drought-tolerant addition that adds splashes of bright yellow flowers to gardens. Growing Jerusalem sage for herb or flower is relatively easy, too, with it needing little care once it is established.
Also known scientifically as Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem sage originates in the Mediterranean, where it thrives in sandy and rocky soils along coastal cliffs and inclines. Much like many other Mediterranean herbs that flower, it finds homes in herb, meadow, and pollinator gardens in much of North America too.
One of the most extraordinary botanical characteristics is its lovely pubescent stems and leaves that are soft to the touch. Another interesting characteristic is the function in culinary settings. While it’s not often the chosen sage for cooking, it works much like culinary sage.
So, let’s take a dive into this lovely perennial herb with a sunny flower! Here we’ll discuss the origins of its golden summer flower and talk about how you can grow it yourself.
Plant Overview

Plant Type
Shrub
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Phlomis
Species
Phlomis fruticosa
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Native Area
Europe
Exposure
Full sun to partial shade
Height
3′
Watering Requirements
Moderate
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Pests & Diseases
Leafhoppers, fungus-resistant
Maintenance
Low
Soil Type
Well-draining, fertile
Hardiness Zone
8-10
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What is Jerusalem Sage?
Phlomis fruticosa is commonly known as shrubby Jerusalem sage, phlomis, lamp wick plant, or just Jerusalem sage. The leaves on the upper half of the shrub were used as lamp wicks by ancient peoples. In fact, the genus name, Phlomis is Greek for ‘flame,’ which could refer to its practical use or the brightness of its flowers. It received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, and it is so worth growing for its lovely flower color that shines in summer.
Native Area

It originates in the Mediterranean region, primarily in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Albania, and areas of former Yugoslavia. Like many herbaceous perennials that flower in regions of North America, this plant tends to crop up in overgrazed and disturbed areas on the Mediterranean coasts.
Characteristics

The shrub consists of erect stems that reach up to three feet tall, spread five feet wide, and have wrinkled leaves that are ovate. Both the grayish-green leaves and stems are covered in fine hairs, giving them a very soft and light appearance in whatever landscape they grow in.
The growing season of Jerusalem sage occurs from spring through late fall, with a bloom time that begins in late spring and ends in late summer. It’s at this time that vibrant short spikes of yellow flowers emerge from multi-stemmed shrubs. Each spike has about 20 flowers lining the outside, and each flower looks somewhat like a snapdragon.
After the flowers die away on Jerusalem sage in winter, attractive seed heads remain, which offer not only an interesting sight in the garden but a habitat for insects and food for birds. When in bloom, the flowers are an excellent choice for a pollinator garden, with their nectar attracting numerous bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Jerusalem sage leaves go well in soups and stews or mixed into butter and bread for a lovely flavor akin to culinary sage. Another aspect it shares with culinary sage (although it is in a different genus) is that it remains evergreen in temperate and subtropic regions.
Varieties

Phlomis fruticosa has a close relative in the same family, known botanically as Phlomis russeliana and commonly as Turkish sage. This species has a similar native region but resides more in Turkey, Syria, and western parts of Asia. It is slightly shorter by about one foot, and the leaves are more pointed. The flower is much like that of fruticosa, though.
Planting

To plant Jerusalem sage, choose a position with similar conditions to the Mediterranean – a sunny location with well-draining soil. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and slightly deeper, then mix in some compost to improve drainage and soil quality.
Place in the hole, ensuring the crown sits at ground level and backfill with soil. Press in well to remove air pockets and water deeply. A mulch around the base will retain moisture and help with weed control.
How to Grow
Growing Jerusalem sage is simple! Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have bright yellow flowers in your garden from late spring through early summer into autumn in most areas. Let’s discuss this native of Turkey in your region.
Light

Phlomis fruticosa grows best in full sun but tolerates some light shade if full sun is inaccessible. Six to eight hours of full sun is best in most cases. However, in hotter regions, provide some light shade in the hard afternoon light. In cooler regions, anything less than full sun can produce leggy growth and stunt growth.
Water

While regular watering is necessary for Jerusalem sage shortly after transplanting, these drought-tolerant shrubs won’t need much afterward. As a baseline, about one inch of water per week is good, especially for those planted in full sun. During temperate seasons, it won’t be necessary to water beyond a couple of times a week.
Increase watering in early summer and late summer, and cut back in winter. Since Jerusalem sage is sensitive to cold, water slowly and deeply ahead of a freeze to about three to four inches below the soil line. Use either drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Careful hand watering is fine, too, as long as it is slow and focused at the base rather than its leaves.
Water in the morning or at dusk. Morning is preferable, as this will give the roots of Jerusalem sage time to absorb the water as the soil warms. The shrub adapts to varying levels of humidity, ranging from fully drought-tolerant to the humidity of the Mediterranean coast.
Soil

Your Jerusalem sage needs semi-fertile, well-draining soil. You can amend the soil when you transplant in late spring or fall by adding a little bit of well-rotted compost to the planting site. If the native soil is compacted, aerate it and provide some agricultural sand or perlite to promote drainage.
Once established, your shrub will thrive in most soil types, provided they drain well. Phlomis fruticosa especially loves gravel as a growing medium. It has a wide pH tolerance, from mildly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Temperature

Jerusalem sage is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10, but it remains semi-perennial in zones 5 through 7. In the arctic cold of zones 3 and 4, the shrub may have trouble returning annually. It is winter hardy down to 23°F and tolerates high heat conditions, especially with a bit of shade to offset warmth. It takes on damage in extremes, however, with resulting affectation occurring on the grayish-green leaves in intense cold and intense full sun in extreme heat.
If you live near zone 10 or somewhere prone to heatwaves, provide light shade by planting it in a dappled sun area or moving taller ones nearby. In the cold, allow the foliage to die back in winter and provide a thick layer of mulch to keep the roots safe until blooms return in late spring.
Fertilizing

Jerusalem sage doesn’t need fertilizer to thrive, but annually in the fall, you can add well-rotted, fertile compost to the base on the soil’s surface to assist with nutrient replenishment. Compost contains basic and trace nutrients needed to support further growth in early spring.
Maintenance

Jerusalem sage loves heavy pruning in fall. This allows for more vigorous growth in its late spring season. If you do not want it to spread and sprout in late spring due to explosions of attractive seed heads in winter, deadhead them as the blooms fade. Alternatively, you can cut them while they are in bloom and put them in floral arrangements to promote a second flower period.
Winter pruning is very important, especially in colder regions outside the hardiness zone range. Cut the plant’s woody stalks to the ground with a sanitized pair of pruning shears. Then, add a layer of mulch to its base to protect the roots. In USDA zones 8 to 10, mulch may not be necessary.
Propagation
Propagation by seed is a much longer method to choose than propagation by division or softwood cuttings. You can also use layering to increase your shrub numbers.
Seeds

In warm or temperate USDA zones, sow seeds in spring in starter trays (like our Epic 4-cell and 6-cells). In colder zones, wait until a few weeks before the last frost.
Keep the seeds at about 65°F. They’ll sprout in roughly ten weeks. When they reach three to four inches tall, spend a couple of weeks gradually hardening them off, and grow them in the garden in an area where you want to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
Dividing

Break up these evergreen shrubs in your landscape by division in spring. This is one of the most important skills to know for perennial gardening. Look at the shrub, and lightly mark a four to six-inch circle in the garden with a shovel around the base.
Then use the shovel to gently pry the root ball above the garden soil. Search in the root ball for places where horizontal runners connect each stem. Carefully divide these to have more sage in your landscape. Cut them cleanly with a pruning knife – we recommend the Felco 322 snips – and transplant the sections in desired areas.
Layering

Mound layering is also an excellent choice for propagating this evergreen. Find a stem with soft green growth and make a slight cut, keeping the stem intact. Then, layer garden soil around and on top of the soft stem. In a few weeks, that stem should have developed roots. It can either be left to grow a whole new shrub or transferred into another area where you’re gardening perennials.
Cuttings

Finally, softwood stem cuttings grow new shrubs. Search for stems on the upper half with new green growth at their tips. Using sanitized pruning shears, remove a cutting from the stems from the garden as desired. Then remove the bottom two to three sets of leaves, allowing two to three sets to remain.
Fill several small pots equal to your cuttings with potting soil. Dip the cut stems in rooting hormone and press them into the pots. Keep the soil moist, and in a few weeks, you’ll have new growth at the tips of the cut stems.
Common Problems
There aren’t many issues to contend with when it comes to this deer-resistant and mostly pest-resistant shrub. However, there are a few things to look out for. Let’s take a look at those now.
Growing Problems

You may have an issue with an overwhelming amount of shrubs depending on how many you have grown. If you’re like me and know you tend to overplant your gardens, take a look at a calculator before you begin gardening with this Turkey native.
Monitor those species planted in the shade. They may get leggy and lack flower petals as the tips extend and search for light. You may experience a ton of spread if you don’t clip back the blooms in autumn. It’s fine to leave the seed for native wildlife to consume in cooler months. Note that you may need to pull up newly planted seeds from each germinated dried flower head in spring if you provide habitat.
Pests

This deer-resistant shrub also wards off most species of disadvantageous insects as well. The only insect that can be a problem is the leafhopper, which can spread diseases to the leaves and flower stems as they hop around.
If you search and find them, spray the sage planted in your garden with water. Keep the area around it clean, and dust this evergreen with diatomaceous earth or kaolin clay to keep them away. Keep these off and away from the flower heads to avoid harming pollinators.
Diseases

There are very few to no diseases to worry about. They are incredibly resistant to oak root fungus, which tends to crop up in years with heat-filled early summer and moist winter months.
However, overwatering can cause root rot in warmer USDA zones in early summer. Make sure your sage garden receives enough water in the hot summer to help it flower, but not so much that it stands in water constantly. Similarly, those in shade may be more susceptible.
The rule of thumb here is to ensure the top three to four inches of garden soil are dry before watering occurs again. This will keep your sage evergreen and promote the attraction of butterflies and other pollinators to the bright yellow flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jerusalem sage used for?
The bright yellow flower color provides a splash of color in a flower garden, as well as a pollen source for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. You can also use the leaves like culinary sage in cooking.
Is Jerusalem sage invasive?
Technically, it’s not, but it can be a beast in the garden, spreading out after several summer seasons. Deadhead the flowers to control some of the spread.
Is Jerusalem sage hardy?
In most places, yes! Jerusalem sages are perfect for a garden of semi-perennials in zones 5 to 7, and a garden of perennials in zones 8 to 10.
Is Jerusalem sage a salvia?
It is not salvia, though it is in the mint family with salvia. One dead giveaway is the structure of the flowers.
Should Jerusalem sage be deadheaded?
Yes! Deadhead the flowers in the early part of the season to encourage blooms later in the summer. Then deadhead each flower again in the fall to prevent a spreading mass of Phlomis in your garden.
Can you grow Jerusalem sage from cuttings?
You definitely can, and it’s the quickest way to propagate.
Is Jerusalem sage edible?
The leaves are edible and can be used much like culinary sage.
Where is Jerusalem sage native to?
This shrub is native to the Mediterranean.