Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Lycian Sage Phlomis bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Lycian sage phlomis, Lycian phlomis (Phlomis lycia).

More about lycian sage phlomis

About Lycian Sage Phlomis

Phlomis lycia · also called Lycian sage phlomis, Lycian phlomis · flowering

Phlomis lycia is an upright, grey-leaved shrub endemic to the coastal cliffs and dry scrubland of Lycia in south-west Turkey, where it endures hot summers and thin rocky soils. It produces whorls of pale yellow flowers in late spring to early summer on tall, woolly stems, making a striking specimen for dry Mediterranean-style planting schemes. Free-draining soil and maximum sun exposure are the two essentials; this plant resents any form of waterlogging. It is not listed on the ASPCA database and is classified as mildly-toxic due to limited published safety data.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons lycian sage phlomis isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming lycian sage phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis to flower

Maximise sun. Give lycian sage phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis and get the feeding right with the lycian sage phlomis 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

Lycian Sage Phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Lycian Sage Phlomis blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my lycian sage phlomis flower?

Lycian Sage Phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis bloom?

Give lycian sage phlomis 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 lycian sage phlomis normally bloom?