preparation for winter.
other maintenance ‘Painter’s
Palette’ tolerates sun, but is happiest in
part shade. Once established it can
handle considerable drought, making
it a great candidate for those trouble-
some dry shade areas where little else
will grow.
related plantS Persicaria micro-
cephala ‘Red Dragon’ (zones 6–9) is
also grown for its foliage (as well as its
red stems), though its sprays of tiny
white flowers in late summer are also
attractive. In early spring, leaves
emerge a deep, dusky purple with
silver chevrons, fading to green and
bronze come summer. ‘Red Dragon’ is
a clumper reaching 3–4 ft. in height
with a 4-ft. spread and doesn’t reseed.
If plants become leggy or floppy, trim
them by half or more and they’ll
recover quickly, pushing out bushy
new growth.Phlomis russeliana
sticky Jerusalem sage
lamiaceaeTiered whorls of pale yellow flowers; large,
felty gray-green leaves
3 ft. high; 2 1/2 ft. wide
Full sun–light shade
Blooms late May–July
Zones 4–9
pruning Sticky Jerusalem sage’s
main blooming period is in June, but
deadheading may encourage more
flower spikes to form, extending the
bloom time possibly through Septem-
ber. The tiered seedheads are a
wonderful addition to the winter
garden, and the leaves are evergreen in
mild climates; wait until early spring
to cut plants back to the ground.
other maintenance This
Mediterranean plant needs sharp
drainage and a site in full sun or very
light shade to thrive. It languishes in
high humidity and rots if overwatered.
Mulch with gravel rather than
moisture-retentive bark or wood chips.
Performance may wane after several
years—if this happens, divide plants in
early spring or start new ones from
cuttings.
related plantS Phlomis fruticosa,
Jerusalem sage, is similar in most
respects to P. russeliana, but has
smaller leaves and is less hardy (zones
7–10).
Phlomis tuberosa, tuberous Jerusa-
lem sage (zones 6–9), has green leaves,
deep red stems, and pink flowers. It is
most often represented by the robust
selection ‘Amazone’.Persicaria virginiana
‘Painter’s Palette’
Phlomis russeliana