Phlomis cashmeriana

Phlomis cashmeriana is a hardy perennial unfairly overlooked, originating from the driest regions of the western Himalayas and Kashmir. This plant forms spreading clumps of beautiful lanceolate leaves with a grey-green colour and a silvery woolly underside, from which emerge in early summer short but numerous leafy stems bearing in their upper part crowns of small light pink lilac flowers. In the garden, it will thrive in full sun, partial shade, or even shade, in deep and well-drained soil. It will be content with rainwater, even if it is scarce in summer.

Phlomis plants are shrubs or perennials belonging to the Lamiaceae family, just like lavender. This genus, mostly of sub-Mediterranean origin, presents remarkable diversity, but it is not well-represented in gardens, despite the robustness and adaptability of the approximately 40 species that compose it. Unlike many other plants from Mediterranean climates, they age well and live for many years without maintenance.

Phlomis cashmeriana, also known as Kashmir Sage, is a deciduous herbaceous perennial widespread in the mountainous and dry areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the far west of China. The plant spreads through robust and woody non-trailing rhizomes and forms tall clumps from spring, ranging from 60 to 100cm (24 to 39in) in height, with a spread of approximately 60cm (24in). Depending on the climate, flowering occurs from May to July, sometimes until September if conditions allow it. In regions with dry summers, the plant goes dormant during the hottest months. The inflorescences in whorls are composed of small mauve to soft pink helmet-shaped flowers, regularly arranged in layered crowns towards the top of the flowering stem. The beautiful oblong and lanceolate green leaves, 10 to 16cm (4 to 6in) long and 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) wide, are thick, with slightly crenate margins, a very soft greyish-green colour on the slightly hairy upper side. They have a very tomentose almost white underside. The vegetation often disappears from September and only re-emerges in March-April.

Phlomis cashmeriana is a robust plant that is easy to grow, in all exposures, in borders or rock gardens. It is an excellent perennial for hot and dry climates in summer, even though it doesn't mind slightly moist but perfectly supple and well-drained soil. It can be combined with shade-loving plants such as bear's breeches, periwinkles, and ivy, which it will keep in check. Its bushy habit will harmonise with rounded shrubs such as wormwoods, bay laurels, common myrtle, Phillyrea, or Mexican orange blossom. It also thrives in sunny borders, alongside hastata verbenas, campanulas, shrubby salvias, lavenders, catmints, or lady's mantles.