Teucrium chamaedrys has an identity problem of sorts. Is it a shrub, a perennial, or a groundcover? All of the above. It’s a good problem to have when it comes to marketing a multipurpose plant to consumers.
It’s not the flashiest plant available – it’s a more jeans and t-shirt type of plant belonging in a casual setting. That’s one of the reasons I like it so much.
It’s a tough, drought-tolerant plant – a great choice for growers and retailers selling to water-conscious gardeners.
With a spreading and somewhat mounding habit, it features evergreen, aromatic foliage and spikes of pink to purple flowers. Depending on the region and the amount of sun it receives, germander flowers in spring, summer and fall. It grows 10-15 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide.
Deer tend to leave it alone, while pollinators are drawn to it.
Why grow Teucrium chamaedrys?
- Drought tolerant
- Attracts pollinators
- Evergreen
- Underused but excellent choice for a groundcover or edging
Sources: High Country Gardens, Mountain States Wholesale Nursery, Missouri Botanical Garden
Explore the June 2017 Issue
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