Purple Lampwick
Phlomis purpurea · Lamiaceae
📷 Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Purple lampwick is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Evergreen, grey-green and downy
- Flowering
- June to September, purple-pink flowers
- Adult height
- Approximately 120 cm
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to around -10°C
- Origin
- Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Phlomis purpurea is a super drought-tolerant shrub with lasting pink/purple flowers: it needs no maintenance if the soil drains well, but a mineral mulch at the base extends blooming by keeping things slightly cool.
The common mistake
Regularly clipping it into a ball shape: this is a naturally-formed plant that hates the shears.
The pro's trick
In April after flowering, just remove the spent flowers and dead branches: that's all you need.
Care
Sunlight
Purple Jerusalem sage demands full sun exposure to flourish fully. It tolerates hot and dry locations. Insufficient light weakens flowering and risks causing the stems to become leggy.
Watering
This is a plant that is very sparing in water once established. Water regularly for the first few weeks after planting, then gradually reduce. During summer, moderate watering every 10 to 15 days is sufficient. Avoid stagnant water.
Soil
It prefers well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, and even tolerates chalky soils. A gravelly or sandy substrate suits it perfectly. Overly rich soil causes soft growth and reduced flowering.
Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact and denser shape. Remove dead or damaged branches in early spring. Moderate pruning extends the shrub's lifespan.
Fertilizer
Undemanding, this plant requires only moderate feeding. A low-nitrogen, potassium-rich fertilizer promotes flowering. One application in spring is generally sufficient.
Hardiness and common problems
Highly resistant to diseases and pests, it mainly dislikes excessive moisture which can cause rot. Plant it in well-drained soil. In very cold climates, light winter protection can be beneficial.
Did you know?
Phlomis purpurea is called 'Jerusalem sage' although it is not a true sage: this common name comes from its resemblance to sages and its Middle Eastern origin. Its dense and thick flowers, arranged in whorls on the stems, are highly appreciated by pollinators, particularly bees and bumblebees, at the height of summer. It is an excellent choice for Mediterranean and dry gardens.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.