Phlomis armeniaca
A hairy mint-family plant of Central and Eastern Anatolian steppes with whorls of yellow flowers in summer; it adds nectar to mixed steppe honey.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.2-0.5 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Phlomis armeniaca is a grey-white hairy Jerusalem sage growing on dry steppes, stony slopes and in oak clearings in Anatolia, the Caucasus and Iran. Its yellow, two-lipped flowers are arranged in whorls along the stem. The flower structure suits large wild bees and bumblebees, but honey bees also visit regularly for nectar.
Flowering
It flowers for about 4-6 weeks between June and August, depending on altitude. Its ability to keep flowering in dry summer conditions is valuable for steppe beekeeping.
Honey and pollen
No monofloral honey is known; its nectar goes, together with thyme, Astragalus and knapweeds, into highland and steppe mixed honey.
Note for the beekeeper
Because there are no nectar or yield measurements specific to this species, the values are based on the general traits of the genus Phlomis. Areas where it is abundant can be considered for midsummer migration together with other steppe plants.