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Upright Germander

Name                     Upright Germander

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Botanical Name   Teucrium chamaedrys

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Family                    Lamiaceae / Labiatae

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Native to                It is native to Europe and western Asia - but has                                      been widely introduced elsewhere.    

 

 

Water                     Dry to Medium (water when soil is dry)

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Sun                        Full sun - may need protection from afternoon                                       sun in hot climates

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Soil                         Light, dry, stony soils; must be well-drained

 

Height                    4-12"

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Width                     12-24"

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Space                     20" (or closer if you plan on creating a more formal                    hedge)  

teucrium-chamadrys-prostratum-flower.jpg

Price

4" pots:  $2.20

6" pots:  $3.50

 

Clay pots and planters:  Prices vary

Description

  • Germander is a shrubby, mounding evergreen.  It has dark, glossy-green leaves and pinkish-purple flowers which arrive on terminal spikes in late spring to early summer. It is prized for its foliage, its compact nature and it fragrance.  Commonly planted in knot and herbal gardens.

Will Tolerate &

Keeping in Going

  • Flourishes in light, dry, stony soils

  • Tolerates poor soil - but must be well-draining

  • Clip back hard in late spring - early autumn to maintain a neat shape

  • Pinch or cut stems after flowering to promote bushy, compact growth.

Won't Tolerate

  • May die back in harsh winter environments

  • No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to mildew, leaf spot, rust and mites. 

History

&

Points of Interest

  • The plant was possibly named after Teucer, the king of Troy, who was said to have been the first to recognize the plant's medicinal properties.

  • Germander comes from the Latin word, gamandrea, which comes from the Greek word, khamaidrys, both meaning "ground oak" (khamai - "on the ground", and drus - "oak", a reference to the shape of the leaves.

  • Uses:  Germander creates a very fragrant, low hedge and is traditionally used in knot gardens and Old World herb gardens.  It can also be planted en masse to create a small-scale ground cover.

  • Even if they are pretty, it is common to clip the flowers to maintain a neat hedge.  If you choose to allow the plant to flower, prune off spent blooms as soon as they fade.

  • Flowering plants attract bees

  • Caution:  Although this plant was historically used as a medicinal plant, it is now believed to cause liver damage and should not be used medicinally.

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