In the garden: this incredibly beautiful shrub is THE solution for a vibrant bed without watering.

Phlomis, champions of summer!

From a distance, you can see the clusters of phlomis stems around which wreaths of flowers revolve. Pink, yellow or white, the first blossoms appear in April or May, depending on whether they are in the south or north of France, and last for more than two months. They rise above cushions of multi-hued leaves, most of which remain interesting well into winter. Shrubby and herbaceous, vigorous phlomis are invaluable for their ability to stand up beautifully to gardener neglect and lack of rain. Qualities that should make these plants, native to the Mediterranean and Asian shores, a favorite in vacation or weekend gardens! Even if the star of the genus, Phlomis fruticosa (or Jerusalem sage), adapts remarkably well to all regions, in our eyes it overshadows a little too much the hundred or so cousins which, although very different, deserve to be appreciated. These other varieties have :

• flowers colored pink, white or yellow, grouped in whorls (a group of flowers or leaves all starting at the same level of the axis that bears them). They rise above the foliage or merge with it;
• downy, evergreen leaves mostly evergreen, with an extreme diversity of shapes (narrow or wider than a gardener’s hand) and hues (green, silvery, golden), accentuated by periods of drought (silver turns white).

Phlomis, decorative and hardy shrubs

In a natural or structured garden, herbaceous and shrubby phlomis take their place… in the sunThey also require neutral or calcareous soil with a dry tendency. They adapt to poor, dry or at least very well-drained soils.a prerequisite for frost resistance.

Herbaceous plants grow in rosettes in the foreground of beds and on rocky ground. Suckering species cover embankments and line walkways with stems that lengthen until they take root, creating new plants (P. samia, P. russeliana).

Shrubs form cushions of leaves crowned with flowers. which are just as suited to the “fuzziness” of natural gardens as to the volumes of structured gardens. In spring, they take on the color of flowers, pricked out in foliage that they will eventually dominate. They are graphic from their bloom to the last days of winter.. These plants assert their style throughout the year with their persistence and their extraordinary hardinesswhile remaining inconspicuous. No watering, no maintenance, phlomis are self-sufficient and are just as suitable for lazy gardeners as for those busy with more temperamental plants.

Phlomis love :

• sunshine. – dryness. – Limestone.

Phlomis hate :

• Frequent watering. – Moist soil. – Overly rich soils. – Permanent shade.

Phlomis: how to grow them successfully?

• Pruning: to maintain the shape of the most compact phlomis, remove the tips of the current year’s shoots and, at the same time, any spent flowers. The latter can also be removed only at the end of winter, as they provide shelter for insects during the cold months.
• Planting: adapts to the poorest soils.
• Treatment of enemies: no.
• Fertilizing: absolutely not!
• Watering: unnecessary for autumn plantings. Once a week for spring plantings.
• Pruning: optional.

Anti-allergy tip: The down covering the leaves of some phlomis can cause irritation. We advise you to wet the foliage or take action after it has rained before touching them. Choose a down-free species from among the herbaceous phlomis, such as P. pungens, with its purple flowers and “hairless” leaves.