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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Crete (Mediterranean |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Phlomis lanata (Pygmy Jerusalem Sage) - A low compact shrub 1 to 2 feet tall by 4 to 6 feet or more wide with small 1/2 to 1 inch long rounded wooly gray-green leaves that have attractive small raised dimples on the upper surface between leaf veins. The lemon yellow flowers, arranged in several whorls, rise just above the foliage from early spring through late fall, but heaviest in late spring to mid-summer. Plant in full sun to light shade with occasional to very little summer water - this plant is quite drought tolerant. Cold tolerant to at least 18 degrees F and listed as hardy throughout most winters in the British Isles. The wooly leaves make it resistant to deer predation and rabbits also seem to leave it alone as well. Phlomis lanata is endemic to Crete, where it can be found from sea level to 5,000 feet in elevation growing in rocky soils along cliffs and in clearings in cypress woodlands and within the garigue, the vegetation type we call "chaparral" here in California, "fynbos" in South Africa, "mallee" in Australia and "matorral" in Chile. It received the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit in 2002. A 20 year old planting along the road in front of our nursery attests to this plant durability and how big it can get over this amount of time - while only 18 inches tall it covers an area about 12 by 12 feet. We got our first plant of Phlomis lanata from Native Sons Nursery in Arroyo Grande, California in 1987 and have been growing this wonderful plant ever since.
This description of this plant is based on our research and our observations of it growing at the nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens. We always appreciate receiving feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or have additional cultural tips that would aid others growing Phlomis lanata .
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