Teucrium Chamaedrys - Germander |
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| Characteristics:
Best
known for its handsome, notched, evergreen leaves, which you can prune into
a neat mound or edging. If you don't shear the plant, it will produce pink
flower spikes in late summer. The foliage grows about 12 inches high, although
you can keep it pruned shorter, and the flowers stretch up to about 18 inches
high. Growing Information: Grow germander in full sun and well-drained soil of moderate fertility. Keep it out of the wind to prevent damage to the evergreen foliage and cover with pine boughs during winter. Remove dead or damaged growth in spring. You can shear germander regularly to maintain a desired shape, but stop in late summer in climates with cold winters. Propagation: You can start germander quickly from root divisions and stem cuttings or slowly from seed. Cultivars: Prostrate germander (T. chamaedrys 'Prostratum') is a vigorous creeping plant that only reaches 10 inches high. Variegated germander is a full-sized germander with yellow and white variegations. Possible Problems: None serious. Harvesting and Using: Use germander as an herb garden ornamental. Historically it was used for medicinal purposes. Related Herbs: T. flavum, a marginally hardy germander, has large, sometimes furry leaves with yellow flowers on plants about 2 feet tall. Caucasian germander (T. hircanicum) is a hardy perennial with furry leaves and purple or red flowers on plants that are 2 feet tall. |
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