Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis chrysophylla)— schedule & NPK
Also called Golden-leaved Jerusalem sage, Golden Jerusalem sage, Lebanese phlomis.
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.
Growth habit: Rounded to broadly spreading evergreen shrub with ornamental golden-felted young foliage.
What fertiliser golden-leaved jerusalem sage actually wants — and why
Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for golden-leaved jerusalem sage: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed golden-leaved jerusalem sage, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For golden-leaved jerusalem sage:
A single light feed with a low-potassium, low-nitrogen fertiliser in spring is sufficient; do not fertilise in late summer or autumn. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when golden-leaved jerusalem sage is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for golden-leaved jerusalem sage
Half strength is the safe default for golden-leaved jerusalem sage — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water golden-leaved jerusalem sage first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the golden-leaved jerusalem sage watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for golden-leaved jerusalem sage:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full golden-leaved jerusalem sage care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of golden-leaved jerusalem sage with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for golden-leaved jerusalem sage
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising golden-leaved jerusalem sage — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does golden-leaved jerusalem sage need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed golden-leaved jerusalem sage?
A single light feed with a low-potassium, low-nitrogen fertiliser in spring is sufficient; do not fertilise in late summer or autumn. A single light feed with a low-potassium, low-nitrogen fertiliser in spring is sufficient; do not fertilise in late summer or autumn. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for golden-leaved jerusalem sage?
Half strength is the safe default for golden-leaved jerusalem sage — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding golden-leaved jerusalem sage year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of golden-leaved jerusalem sage?
Flush the pot of golden-leaved jerusalem sage with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Golden-Leaved Jerusalem Sage care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water golden-leaved jerusalem sage — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
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- How to fertilise sand couch grass
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- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library