Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Woolly Jerusalem sage, Woolly phlomis (Phlomis lanata).

More about woolly jerusalem sage

About Woolly Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis lanata · also called Woolly Jerusalem sage, Woolly phlomis · flowering

Phlomis lanata is a low, mound-forming, evergreen sub-shrub native to Crete and the Greek islands, where it grows on dry rocky hillsides and garrigue scrub. It is prized for its exceptionally dense, white-woolly leaves and whorls of bright yellow flowers borne in late spring and early summer. Excellent drainage and full sun are non-negotiable — this species is very intolerant of winter wet. Phlomis lanata is not listed on the ASPCA database; it is classified here as mildly-toxic due to insufficient confirmed safety data.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Legginess and poor flowering: Lack of adequate sun or over-feeding with nitrogen causes weak, sprawling growth and fewer flowers; cut back lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

The reasons woolly jerusalem sage isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly jerusalem sage to flower

Maximise sun. Give woolly 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 woolly jerusalem sage and get the feeding right with the woolly 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

Woolly 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 woolly jerusalem sage care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Woolly Jerusalem Sage blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my woolly jerusalem sage flower?

Woolly 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 woolly jerusalem sage bloom?

Give woolly 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 woolly jerusalem sage normally bloom?