Phlomis pungens
A Jerusalem sage of steppes and dry slopes with whorls of pink-purple lipped flowers in summer; best suited to bumblebees but visited by honey bees.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-0,7 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Phlomis pungens is a perennial of the mint family that grows in the steppe belt stretching from eastern Europe to Central Asia and on dry slopes, field edges and pastures in Anatolia. Its pink-purple flowers with a hairy upper lip form whorls along the stem. The flower structure suits large bumblebees; honey bees reach the nectar only partly and visit the plant especially on dry summer days.
Flowering
It flowers between June and August, for about 6-8 weeks. It is one of the few plants still in flower on the steppe in midsummer.
Honey and pollen
It gives no monofloral honey; it makes a small contribution to summer steppe honey. Nectar and pollen measurements specific to the species are limited.
Note for the beekeeper
The genus Phlomis has many species in Turkey, and many of them are important sources for bumblebees and wild bees. As it tolerates grazing, it eases the summer dearth to some extent on dry pastures.