Algerian rosemary
Salvia jordanii · Lamiaceae
📷 Nanosanchez · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Algerian rosemary is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- Summer (June to September)
- Adult size
- 24 to 40 inches tall, bushy habit
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Moderate (protect in cold climates)
- Origin
- Middle East (Jordan and neighboring regions)
- Soil type
- Well-drained, dry to moderately moist
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Salvia jordanii thrives in dry conditions and full sun. Water moderately during growth, minimally in winter. No fertilizer needed. Prune lightly after flowering to encourage new wood growth.
The common mistake
Treating it like a regular sage with regular watering is a mistake. It becomes soft and flowers poorly in temperate climates.
The pro's trick
Pinch young stems in June to force very dense branching. It will then flower on all the small branches instead of one spindly central stem.
Seasonal watch
In humid winters (November-December), check drainage carefully. If it receives too much standing water, the crown will rot. In heavy soil, plant on a mound.
Care
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Once established, this sage tolerates drought well. In winter, reduce watering to the bare minimum to prevent root rot.
Light
Place it in a sunny location (6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight). This promotes generous flowering and dense foliage. It tolerates partial shade but will be less compact and less floriferous.
Pruning
Prune lightly in spring to maintain a compact bushy habit. Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Cut out dead or frost-damaged branches as soon as new growth appears.
Soil and drainage
Choose well-drained, light, even poor soil. A potting mix enriched with sand or gravel promotes root aeration. Avoid compact, overly rich soils that would encourage lush growth at the expense of flowering.
Fertilizing
A moderate application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient. Sages generally dislike excess nutrition. A light compost mixed into the base soil is preferable to intensive chemical fertilizers.
Diseases and pests
Relatively hardy, it can be affected by powdery mildew in humid, poorly ventilated conditions. Spider mites appear during prolonged drought combined with intense heat. Ensure good airflow and avoid excess moisture to prevent these issues.
Did you know?
Salvia jordanii owes its scientific name to Jordan, the region where it was first identified. Like most sages, it contains aromatic essential oils that have interested Middle Eastern herbalists for centuries for their traditional properties, although its specific botanical and chemical characteristics remain less documented than those of its well-known cousin, Salvia officinalis.
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.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
- LavenderLavandula angustifolia
- SageSalvia officinalis
- BasilOcimum basilicum
- RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
- BugleAjuga reptans
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.