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RE: Phlomis

Jane, 
There are many pink flowering species of Phlomis. I am currently growing 3 
pink flowering Phlomis in my nursery and have others in the garden.  The most 
common are two shrubs, each growing to 5-6 ft tall with narrow 1-2 inch long 
leaves.  Of the two, Phlomis purpurea is more widely distributed in the trade 
- it is an upright growing plant with dark pink to purple flowers with leaves 
that are green and sparsely pubescent on the upper surface and tomentose 
below.  P. italica is less upright, has soft pink flowers and leaves covered 
with downy white hairs on both surfaces.  The third pink flowering species I 
grow is P. cashmeriana - it is a low growing (to 2 ft.) shrub with large pale 
pink flowers and large green leaves.

In the garden I have P. tuberosa which is also pink.  It is a perennial with 
green leaves that is easily distinguished by the tubers that form on the 
roots.  Other pink flowering species include P. alpina, P. samia (often 
confused with P. russeliana by seed suppliers) and P. herba-venti.

There is are excellent Phlomis resources on-line:  
For a photo of P. purpurea try: 
http://www.knoware.nl/flora/Labiatae/Phlomis/P.purpurea/P.purpurea.1.jpeg
Also a key to the Phlomis of China from Harvard at: 
http://herbaria.harvard.edu/china/lamia/phlokey.htm

Hope this helps
Randy Baldwin
San Marcos Growers
http://www.smgrowers.com
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