Phlomis russeliana aka Turkish Sage

Phlomis russeliana, also known as Turkish sage, is a hairy perennial plant in the Lamiaceae family. Native to Turkey and Syria in southwest Asia, it is often mistaken for P. samia and incorrectly sold as Phlomis viscosa. Growing up to 1 meter tall, this herbaceous perennial has erect stems covered in hairs. Its sage-like leaves are grey-green and textured, with an arrow-shaped form that points downwards. During the summer, green buds develop in the leaf axils along each vertical stem, creating a unique tiered effect. These buds open up to clusters of dull yellow hooded flowers. Phlomis russeliana is commonly cultivated as an ornamental garden flower, thriving in moist soil and full sun. It can withstand temperatures as low as -20 °C (-4 °F) and its long-lasting flowers provide visual interest throughout the winter. The dried flower-heads also produce numerous seeds for propagation in early spring. This plant has been honored with the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. With its large, ovate, rough-textured grey-green leaves, P. russeliana reaches a height of 90 cm as a stout-stemmed perennial. It bears whorls of soft yellow, hooded flowers that measure 3 cm in length. Unlike many other phlomis species, P. russeliana can tolerate some shade.