Tuberous Jerusalem sage
Phlomis tuberosa
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
What it is like
Phlomis tuberosa is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 1.5
Where it is found
Dry rocky ground amongst herbaceous vegetation. Wet grasslands and valleys at elevations of 1200 - 2100 metres in northern China.
E. Europe to Siberia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Root - cooked. Rich in starch but with a somewhat bitter flavour.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Requires a well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds. Hardy to at least -15°c, if the top growth is killed back by the cold the plants will usually regrow. Another report says that it is hardy to about -25°c but is totally deciduous in the winter.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. The seed germinates quickly, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for their first year in a greenhouse. Plant them out in early summer. Division of the tubers in spring or autumn. Be careful not to damage the tubers. If dividing in the autumn, it is best to store the tubers in a cool but frost-free place over the winter, planting them out in the spring. Spring divisions can be planted out straight away into their permanent positions.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 5-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist