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Glite Dictionary
Jerusalem sage

Jerusalem sage

9.1
A low spreading bush with many purple or yellow flowers used in gardens
  • noun
translation icon : salvia de Jerusalén
  • He chose Jerusalem sage for its drought-resistant qualities and attractive flowers.

Examples

  • Yellow-flowered Jerusalem sage added a splash of color to the rockery.

  • The garden’s border was filled with blooming Jerusalem sage in early summer.

  • The Jerusalem sage blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • I planted some Jerusalem sage in my garden.

  • The garden was full of Jerusalem sage, featuring vibrant whorls of purple flowers.

  • In spring, the Jerusalem sage blooms beautifully, attracting many pollinators.

  • I planted Jerusalem sage in my garden because of its striking yellow flowers.

Synonyms

Phlomis fruticosa
vsJerusalem sage
  • Specialized
9.9

A low, bushy plant with bright yellow or purple flowers often used in gardens

is the common name rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

Jerusalem sage singular
Jerusalem sages plural

Morphology

Jerusalem + sage

The compound combines the place name 'Jerusalem' with 'sage' (an herb), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a type or variety of sage associated with Jerusalem or the Mediterranean. This place + noun naming pattern is a regular, compositional English structure and is readily interpretable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Jerusalem sage may come from a simple image: the shrub's grey-green leaves and smell are like the cooking herb sage, and it grew commonly in gardens around Jerusalem. That's why people joined the place name Jerusalem with the herb name sage, so today Jerusalem sage means this flowering shrub often seen in dry, sunny gardens.