Phlomis

I'm currently in the early stages of clearing part of my back garden, prior to replanting. Earlier this year I realised that I had far too many trees and potentially large shrubs not-all-that-gradually shading out what is a small suburban garden, so I am now removing all those not growing along the garden's boundaries. In the central part of this south-facing walled garden I'm minded to go for a Mediterranean style of planting. Two of the beds will be home to my growing collection of Dieramas (still in their pots) and as they don't like too much competition from other plants, especially taller ones, I'm looking at low-growing perennials and shrubs, such as Salvia gregii and its hybrids, for example.

I'm interested in trying one or two species of Phlomis, and would appreciate any advice on this genus. Some of them are far too tall and/or wide (such as P.fruticosa) for what I have in mind, and I know that a few are tender. I wonder whether such species as P.taurica, P.cretica and P.cypria would suit? It's quite rare for minimum temperatures to fall below -5C here in the winter. I'm very much a novice with these plants - my only previous experience was 10 years ago with P.tuberosa, that I grew from seed. It never flowered, so it was deeply irritating that a spare plant I gave to a friend, living further inland in a colder and less sunny area, flowered magnificently every year.

Grateful for all advice and information.

Einion Hughes,
Rhyl, North Wales (Zone 8-ish; - if you go in for that sort of thing...)
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