Germanders
Botanical name: Teucrium
Germanders
Botanical name: Teucrium
Description
Germanders (Teucrium) are known to be low maintenance plants and are grown for their attractive flowers that, depending on the species (of which there are hundreds), could be pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, or white. Bees tend to like germanders so they are often planted with other pollinator plants in gardens meant to attract them. You can find them nearly all over the world.
Species of Germanders
Tree germander
Tree germander (Teucrium fruticans) is an evergreen shrub that will grow from 1.2 to 2.5 m tall. Its gray-green leaves emit an aromatic scent, while its silvery white undersides offer a glowing contrast. It blooms most of the year with tiny, lavender-blue flowers that attract bees and butterflies. An extremely durable plant that is drought-tolerant and can withstand wind and salt spray, making it a good choice for coastal or seaside locations.
Yellow germander
Teucrium flavum is an evergreen, dense dwarf shrub. The flower stems are up to 1.3 m high. The occasionally slightly vaulted leaves are ovate, about 8 cm long and 5 cm wide, the margin is notched to toothed. They are dark green shiny. In the inflorescences, the flowers are arranged in whorls.
Wall germander
Wall germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) is a creeping evergreen perennial that thrives in temperate areas where the temperature doesn't often dip below freezing. Wall germander is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive, aromatic foliage and its pink or purple flowers. The flowers lure in pollinators and are an excellent pollen source for honey bees.
Woodland germander
Native to western Europe and parts of northern Africa, woodland germander (Teucrium scorodonia) has been widely cultivated as an ornamental. The species boasts lovely, pale yellow or green flowers and is known to be very pollinator-friendly. Woodland germander has been naturalized beyond its native range, including on New Zealand and in parts of the U.S.'s northeast.
Teucrium japonicum
Teucrium japonicum (Teucrium japonicum) are known to be low maintenance plants and are grown for their attractive flowers that, depending on the species (of which there are hundreds), could be pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, or white. Bees tend to like teucrium japonicum so they are often planted with other pollinator plants in gardens meant to attract them. You can find them nearly all over the world.
American germander
American germander (Teucrium canadense) was once used to make beer before hops became popular. However, it has since been found that this common plant can cause liver damage. Its redeeming value is that it attracts pollinators such as hummingbirds and hummingbird moths.
Cutleaf germander
Cutleaf germander (Teucrium botrys) is a flowering herb that can be most easily spotted in the wild when its small but attractive purple flowers are in bloom. The plant can often be found growing wild at the margins of farmed land, and is sometimes cultivated for its foliage or blooms.
Dwarf germander
Dwarf germander (Teucrium cubense) is a member of the mint family native to the southwestern United States, Central America, and the southern portion of South America. It makes an excellent groundcover that can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, and blooms with clusters of white or blueish flowers.
Sticky germander
Sticky germander grows small purple-white flowers that bloom over a long period from early summer to late fall, so this is the best time to identify the plant in the wild. Its name viscidum refers to the sticky or viscid substance that coats its hairy leaves and stems.
Mountain germander
Mountain germander is an evergreen creeping perennial that grows in poor, dry soil. This frost-tender plant is often used in rockeries for ground-covering. Its Latin name Teucrium montanum originates from "Teucer," the name of the Homeric hero, and "montanum," which implies "growing in the mountains," referring to this plant's natural habitat.
Teucrium vincentinum
Teucrium vincentinum (Teucrium vincentinum) are known to be low maintenance plants and are grown for their attractive flowers that, depending on the species (of which there are hundreds), could be pink, purple, blue, red, yellow, or white. Bees tend to like teucrium vincentinum so they are often planted with other pollinator plants in gardens meant to attract them. You can find them nearly all over the world.
Scientific Classification
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