Phlomis bourgaei - Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis bourgaei, also known as Phlomis fruticosa 'Bourgaei', is part of a group of shrubs that thrive in dry terrain called Jerusalem Sage. This variety is one of the most decorative for its summer foliage covered in thick golden wool. It is an evergreen shrub that blooms in spring, with yellow flowers gathered in small crowns. It can withstand sea spray, tolerate limestone, and thrive well in long dry summers. It can be planted in a sunny flower bed or on the edge of woodlands in Mediterranean regions.

Phlomis bourgaei is a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, just like thyme and sages. It is native to Turkey and the Aegean Islands. In the wild, it is found in oak scrublands and Aleppo pine woods on rocky limestone soils up to 1000 m altitude. This shrub reaches about 1 m high and 80 cm wide, depending on the growing conditions. It blooms in April-May in the south, a little later in cooler regions. Its curved, 2-3 cm long flowers, are grouped in crowns, regularly arranged on the upper part of the branches. Each flower has a brown "galea" covering a two-lipped, dark yellow corolla. They are visited by pollinating insects, especially large black bees. The foliage shows marked seasonal differences. In winter and spring, it consists of larger, green-grey leaves. They fall in late spring, after flowering, and are replaced by smaller, very wavy leaves, pressed against each other and covered in golden-brown woolly hairs. The hotter and drier the summer, the thicker this golden fuzz will be. The leaves of this phlomis have a strongly wavy, triangular surface. In northern regions, it is semi-evergreen, while it is perennial in Mediterranean climates. The cold resistance of this species is estimated at -12/-15°C at its peak for a mature plant planted in well-drained soil.

Bourgeau's Jerusalem Sage is an excellent plant for dry gardens without irrigation or coastal gardens. This shrub thrives in sandy soils, on scorching limestone plateaus, but also on the edge of oak and pine woodlands in Mediterranean areas. It naturally pairs well with Corbières rockrose (Cistus corbariensis), silver santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus), and prostrate rosemary ('Pointe du Raz' Rosmarinus officinalis). It will also thrive in a flower bed or sunny border with 'Blue Wonder' spurge (Euphorbia characias) or blue shrubby sages (Salvia). It can even be planted alone in large masses, as its foliage remains decorative all year round.