Germander

A genus of mostly low, evergreen, shrubby perennials that are part of the larger Labiatae family. Most are tolerant of poor, dry soils.

Teucrium aroanium ( Gray Creeping Germander )
A dense, spreading, evergreen, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 1.5 foot, that is native to Greece.
The oval leaves are silvery-gray.
The abundant, showy grayish-blue to pinkish-purple flowers are borne on dense racemes during early summer, often repeating into mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade. Very drought tolerant. Resistant to rabbit and deer.

Teucrium canadensis ( Canada Germander )
A perennial, rhizome-spreading, colony forming perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3.5 x 3 feet, that is native to wet woods in much of North America ( from Kamloops, British Columbia to far southern Alberta to far southern Saskatchewan to southern Manitoba to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Pike Bay, Ontario to Haliburton, Ontario to Quebec City to New Brunswick & Nova Scotia; south to California to Texas to south Florida ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was common at Point Pelee, the Lake Erie islands, the Ohio shore as well as at Detroit during the 1800s. It has become extinct in the wild in Bruce and Haliburton Counties in Ontario.
The toothed, narrowly-ovate leaves are up to 5 x 2 inches in size. The foliage is bright green.
The pink to pale purple flowers are borne mid-summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( possibly 3 for Manitoba seed source ) in full sun to partial shade.

* photos taken by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora

Teucrium chamaedrys ( Wall Germander )
An upright, low, evergreen, woody-based shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 x 4 ( rarely over 1 ) feet, that is native to Europe ( esp. central and southern Europe ), western Asia and northern Africa. It looks great when used for edging and can also be sheared as a low hedge. Fast growing, it has been known to spread as much as 2 feet in a year.
The oppositely arranged, scallop-edged, oval leaves, up to 1.5 inches in length, are glossy deep green above, gray beneath.
The pink ( rarely red-purple or white ), tubular flowers, up to 0.8 inches, are borne on short spikes up to 5 inches in length, during late spring, though often continuing sporadically into early autumn. The flowers are borne on whorls from the leaf axils. The flowers do attract bees.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on light, well drained soil. It is recommended to mulch to protect the roots during winter in zones 4 to 6. Very heat and drought tolerant though in arid climates such as the desert southwest, it does benefit from a deep watering twice a week during summer. Plants can be cut back occasionally to encourage dense habit. Generally pest and disease free, though may be affected by leaf spot, rust, mildew and mites in some areas. Propagation is from division during early spring and stem cuttings taken during late summer.

* photos of unknown internet source


* photos taken on July 13 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, MD

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Teucrium cossonii
An evergreen shrubby perennial, reaching up to 10 inches x 2 feet.

Teucrium fruticans ( Shrubby Germander )
A very fast growing, open, loose evergreen shrub, reaching up to 5 x 6.5 feet in 6 years and an maximum size of 10 x 13 feet. It is native to southern Europe and northern Africa.
The leaves, up to 2 inches in length, are bright green above, white felted beneath.
The bright blue, lipped flowers are borne from the upper leaf axils during summer.
The shoots are felted and white.
Hardy zones 9 & 10 though root hardy to zone 5 if mulched, where it may regrow to 3.3 feet during the summer. It can be propagated from seed or cuttings taken during late summer. Shrubby Germander should be planted during early spring only unlike most other species.

'Azureum'
Hardier, north to zone 8, with deep blue flowers.

Teucrium hyrcanicum
A woody-based perennial, reaching up to 2.5 x 2 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, that is native from western Asia to the Caucasus.
The soft, downy leaves are green. The small, red-purple flowers are borne on dense whorls summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun.

Teucrium majoricum
A low, mat-forming, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 1 x 2.5 + feet, that is native to high mountains of Majorca in the Mediterranean.
The small, fine-textured foliage is silvery.
The rosy-purple flowers are borne on short, broad spikes during late spring into early summer. In mild climates, the flowers are borne nearly all year.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( 6 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade on very well drained soil. Excessive or overhead irrigation should be avoided as it can cause rot.

'Purple Robe'
Deep purple flowers; otherwise identical to species.

Teucrium marum ( Cat Thyme )
A woody-based, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 2 x 3 feet, that is native to Spain.
The leaves, up to 0.25 inches in length, are deep green above, hairy white beneath. The fragrance of this plant gives cats an ecstasy-like high that is stronger than Catmint.
The small, reddish-pink flowers are borne mid summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 7b to 10 in full sun on well drained soil. It requires hot summers and should be planted against a south facing wall in cool climates. It is easy to grow from cuttings. While your cat will love offerings of this plant, to not plant it where cats roam, as they will joyously roll in it until there is no plant left for them to get high off of.

Teucrium massiliense
A shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3.3 feet, that is native to the Mediterranean region.
The foliage is tomentose.
The pinkish-purple flowers are borne on whorls.
Hardy zones 9

Teucrium montanum
A woody-based, mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 10 inches in height, that is native to Europe.
The creamy-white flowers, up to 0.8 inches long, are borne on spikes.

Teucrium nuchense

* excellent photo link found on internet
http://plants.nature4stock.com/?page_id=3145

Teucrium polium ( Golden Germander )
A low, mounding, woody-based, shrubby perennial, reaching up to 16 inches x 1 foot, that is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe into western Asia.
The small leaves are gray.
The flowers that range from white to pink and purple are borne on small heads during summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 in full sun.

Teucrium pyrenaicum
A trailing, woody, mat-forming, evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 x 16 inches, that is native to southern Europe.
The oval leaves are up to 1 inch in length.
The purplish-pink and creamy-white flowers are borne on heads, up to 1.3 inches across, all summer long.
Hardy zones 4 to 9

Teucrium rosemarinifolius
A low, evergreen, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 12 inches.
The leaves are narrow and silvery-gray.
The rose-purple flowers are borne in clusters up to 2 inches across.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum' ( Wood Germander )
An erect, rhizomatous, shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 feet.
The crispy, wrinkled, toothed, heart-shaped leaves, up to 2.5 inches in length, are green to gray-green.
The tiny, yellowish-green flowers are borne on a loose inflorescence from summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.