Mature size & growth rate

How big does Bove's Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis bovei) get?

Also called Bove's Jerusalem sage, Bove's phlomis, Moroccan phlomis.

More about bove's jerusalem sage

About Bove's Jerusalem Sage

Phlomis bovei · also called Bove's Jerusalem sage, Bove's phlomis · flowering

Phlomis bovei is a tall, robust, woolly-leaved shrub native to the Atlas Mountains and dry hillsides of Morocco and Algeria, where it colonises rocky slopes and scrub at low to moderate altitudes. It produces dense whorls of pink to mauve flowers in early summer on stout, felted stems that can reach considerable height, making it an architectural plant for dry Mediterranean or gravel gardens. Its North African origin means it appreciates warmth and resents prolonged cold or wet winters. Phlomis bovei is not included in the ASPCA database and is classified as mildly-toxic as a precautionary measure.

Mature size: 150–200 cm tall and 100–150 cm wide (approximately 5–6.5 ft × 3.5–5 ft).

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Bove's Jerusalem Sage is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets. Indoors and in a pot, expect 150–200 cm tall and 100–150 cm wide (approximately 5–6.5 ft × 3.5–5 ft).. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Growth rate and years to mature

Bove's Jerusalem Sage is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: no regular feeding is needed or beneficial; a very light application of low-nitrogen fertiliser in spring is the maximum advisable in nutrient-poor soils.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the bove's jerusalem sage repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast bove's jerusalem sage grows.

How to keep bove's jerusalem sage smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For bove's jerusalem sage specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Prune bove's jerusalem sage annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size.
Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds.
Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size.
Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Prune at the right time. Time the cut to bove's jerusalem sage's type (after flowering for many spring shrubs, late winter for summer-flowering ones) so you do not lose the next display.
Take out the oldest stems. Remove up to a third of the oldest, thickest stems at the base to renew the shrub and contain it.
Shorten the rest. Cut the remaining stems back to an outward-facing bud at the height and width you want.
Restrict the roots. For a permanent size cap, grow it in a large container rather than open ground.

How to grow bove's jerusalem sage bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for bove's jerusalem sage the accelerators are:

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant.
Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth.
Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The bove's jerusalem sage light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When bove's jerusalem sage outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for bove's jerusalem sage:

It shades or crowds neighbouring plants, or blocks a path it used to clear.
Bare, woody, unproductive centres with growth only on the outside — a sign it needs renovation pruning.
It has clearly exceeded the space you allotted and an annual trim no longer holds it.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the bove's jerusalem sage repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the bove's jerusalem sage propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Bove's Jerusalem Sage size — frequently asked questions

How big does bove's jerusalem sage get?

Bove's Jerusalem Sage reaches 150–200 cm tall and 100–150 cm wide (approximately 5–6.5 ft × 3.5–5 ft). when grown indoors. Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Is bove's jerusalem sage slow or fast growing?

Bove's Jerusalem Sage is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Bove's Jerusalem Sage is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets.

How long does bove's jerusalem sage take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep bove's jerusalem sage smaller?

Prune bove's jerusalem sage annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size. Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds. Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size. Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

How can I make bove's jerusalem sage grow bigger or faster?

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant. Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth. Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.