Germander

Germander is a rugged, woody, fragrant variety of plant from the mint family.

If you are looking for a handsome, drought tolerant plant that can grow in pretty much any soil, consider germander. Full sun, partial sun, clay soil - germander doesn’t seem to care. And the deer leave it alone!

Germander actually refers to an entire genus of plants called Teucrium. These plants are from the Mediterranean and eastern Europe. They grow wild in poor, rocky soil, so our California clay and drought are no problem.

There are several varieties of germander to choose from:

• Bush germander (Teucrium fruiticans) - 3 - 8’ tall, silvery foliage, purple flowers
• Creeping or American germander (T. canadense) - very low growing (4”), rapidly spreading, pink or pale lavender flowers, tufted leaves
• Fruity or Pineapple germander (T. cossonii majoricum) - 12” high, slower growing and non-invasive, lavender blue to rose-colored ball-shaped flowers
• Wall germander (T. chamaedrys) - 1 - 3’ tall, 3’ wide, mounding habit, makes a nice miniature hedge, pink to purple flowers, with an occasional white thrown in for contrast 
• Woodland germander or Wood Sage (T. scorodonia) - 1 to 2’ tall, pale yellow or green flowers with red or violet stamens, prefers sandy soil​

Germanders of all types feature sturdy pale green to grayish-green to foliage. These evergreens can have tiny flowers, like rosemary, or flowers on spikes. The leaves of some varieties can be very aromatic when crushed or brushed against. The color, structure, and fragrance have made germaders a popular choice for formal knot gardens and parterres. Their low maintenance durability make them excellent border plants, ground covers, and landscape anchors.

Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators love germander flowers for their pollen and nectar. Germander can be grown in containers, indoors or out. Most germander varieties tend to get leggy, so pinching off or cutting stems just above leaf intersections can promote a bushier growth. Germander’s characteristics make it useful in many ways:

• performs well in rock gardens and xeriscapes
• aromatic oils make it a nice addition to herbal wreaths
• responds well to pruning
• spreading rhizomes can stabilize slopes (and invade areas where they are not wanted)

How to grow germander

As a member of the mint family, germander is easiest to grow from cuttings and division. You can simply pull a piece of existing plant from the ground and put it in some moist soil. New roots should be visible before long. You can also snip a stem and treat it the same way. If you grow germander from seed, it may take a month for them to germinate. I don’t know about you, but a seed that takes that long to break ground is often forgotten about - especially if I forgot to use a plant marker. Take a look at germander the next time you visit a garden supply store. They normally have several varieties available. Germander pests include mites, rust, powdery mildew, and leaf spot, but healthy plants are generally able to fend for themselves.

​Do you have room for germander in your garden? I'd love to see photos!