A tuberous-rooted perennial of the mint family, Jerusalem sage is native to southern Europe and Asia. Tiny, tubular, lavender-pink flowers in dense whorled clusters bloom at intervals up long, columnar, 4-angled, dark red flowering stems in late spring to early summer (May – July). Flower clusters give way in summer to ornamental seed heads which remain attractive throughout fall into winter. Wrinkled, toothed, arrowhead-shaped, rough-textured, green basal leaves (to 8″ long) form a mound of foliage to 15″ tall, but the upright flower stems rise well above that foliage to 3-4′ tall. Photo courtesy of Jelitto.
Phlomis tuberosa Jerusalem sage
Description
A tuberous-rooted perennial of the mint family, Jerusalem sage is native to southern Europe and Asia. Tiny, tubular, lavender-pink flowers in dense whorled clusters bloom at intervals up long, columnar, 4-angled, dark red flowering stems in late spring to early summer (May – July). Flower clusters give way in summer to ornamental seed heads which remain attractive throughout fall into winter. Wrinkled, toothed, arrowhead-shaped, rough-textured, green basal leaves (to 8″ long) form a mound of foliage to 15″ tall, but the upright flower stems rise well above that foliage to 3-4′ tall. Photo courtesy of Jelitto.
