Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Lycian Sage Phlomis (Phlomis lycia)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Lycian sage phlomis, Lycian phlomis.

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.

Cold limit: USDA 8-11 · RHS H4 (-5 to 38°C)

Watch for — Root rot in wet winters: The species is extremely sensitive to waterlogging during cold, wet winters; ensure sharp drainage and consider growing against a sheltered, sunny wall in regions with high winter rainfall.

What lycian sage phlomis's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — lycian sage phlomis is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 8-11, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H4 means: Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world. On the US scale that maps to USDA 8-11 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Lycian Sage Phlomis is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for lycian sage phlomis as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −10 to −5 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can lycian sage phlomis go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 8-11 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when lycian sage phlomis can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H4 figure above.

Lycian Sage Phlomis hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is lycian sage phlomis cold hardy?

Yes — lycian sage phlomis is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 8-11, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Lycian Sage Phlomis is hardy across USDA 8-11; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature lycian sage phlomis can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Lycian Sage Phlomis is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is lycian sage phlomis?

Lycian Sage Phlomis is rated USDA 8-11 and RHS H4 — Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world.

Can lycian sage phlomis survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 8-11 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to lycian sage phlomis below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −10 to −5 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.