Phlomis russelliana

Phlomis russelliana is a tough, semi-evergreen perennial prized for both its sculptural structure and its remarkably easy-going nature — a firm favourite in dry gardens and naturalistic planting schemes alike.

The foliage is soft, felted, sage-green and crinkled. It spreads to cover the ground effectively, helping to suppress weeds and retain humidity in the soil.

From this basal clump rise sturdy upright flower stems in early summer, reaching 90 cm to 1 m tall.

The flowers take the shape of tiered whorls of pale yellow hooded flowers stacked at intervals up the stem, like architectural collars.

The dried seed heads turn a rich brown and remain strikingly sculptural well into autumn and winter, adding real structure to the garden even in the depths of the cold season.

It's this quality that's made the plant a signature choice in New Perennial and naturalistic planting design - it's a favorite of Piet Oudolf's, among others, when creating a naturally recurring motif.