Jerusalem Sage

Name: Jerusalem Sage
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Phlomis fruticosa

Bold whorls of intense yellow flowers crown this Mediterranean native, adding Old World charm to desert gardens.

Hardy in USDA zones 7-11; evergreen through low-desert winters, hardy to around 10 degrees F, and best in low- to mid-desert gardens with good drainage.

AMWUA Notes

A moderate-water Mediterranean subshrub that provides evergreen structure and bold spring bloom with little fuss.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water every 1-2 weeks in summer once established; this Mediterranean shrub is drought tolerant and needs good drainage to avoid rot.

✂️Pruning

Cut the flowered stems back by a third to a half after bloom to keep the woolly mound dense; the dried flower whorls can be left for winter structure or removed.

🌱Fertilizing

Little to none; lean soil keeps the gray foliage compact and the plant long-lived.

🛡️Pests

Resistant to most pests thanks to its felted leaves; rabbits and deer usually avoid it.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Evergreen gray-green subshrub that blooms in spring and early summer; give it a hard renewal cut in late winter every few years to prevent legginess.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Lean, well-drained soils; tolerates poor, rocky, and alkaline ground; needs good drainage to avoid rot.

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Cuttings, division of the clump, or seed; semi-hardwood cuttings root well.

📐Spacing

3–4 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Minimal; a well-behaved woody subshrub that spreads slowly at the base without invasive roots.

Placement Tips

•Use its bold whorled flower stems and woolly foliage as a structural anchor in a Mediterranean bed.
•Space 3-4 feet apart so each rounded mound has room to show its form.
•Pair with other gray-leaved, low-water Mediterranean plants for a cohesive palette.
•Full sun and sharp drainage; it tolerates reflected heat but not wet feet.