Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Golden Jerusalem sage, Lebanese phlomis (Phlomis chrysophylla).
More about golden-leaved jerusalem sage
About Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage
Phlomis chrysophylla · also called Golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Golden Jerusalem sage · flowering
Phlomis chrysophylla is a distinctive, medium-sized evergreen shrub native to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, where it grows on rocky limestone slopes and in dry shrubland at moderate elevations. Its leaves are notably golden-yellow when young, ageing to grey-green with a dense felt of star-shaped hairs, while whorls of soft yellow flowers appear in early summer. Sharp drainage and a sunny, sheltered position are critical, particularly in cooler climates where winter wet causes rapid decline. Phlomis chrysophylla is not listed on the ASPCA database and is assigned a mildly-toxic classification pending confirmed safety data.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons golden-leaved jerusalem sage isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming golden-leaved jerusalem sage traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get golden-leaved jerusalem sage to flower
- Maximise sun. Give golden-leaved jerusalem sage the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for golden-leaved jerusalem sage and get the feeding right with the golden-leaved jerusalem sage fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full golden-leaved jerusalem sage care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my golden-leaved jerusalem sage flower?
Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make golden-leaved jerusalem sage bloom?
Give golden-leaved jerusalem sage the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does golden-leaved jerusalem sage normally bloom?
Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with golden-leaved jerusalem sage after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping golden-leaved jerusalem sage flowering?
Feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library