Species tree germander

tree germander

Teucrium fruticans

Tree germander (Teucrium fruticans) is a woody shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It grows up to 8 feet tall and has evergreen, silvery-green leaves. Small, purple-blue flowers bloom from summer to fall and are attractive to butterflies and bees. The plant is sun-loving but drought tolerant and needs well-drained soil to thrive. It's a great choice for hedges or as an accent in gardens with a Mediterranean theme. Pruning is recommended to keep it in shape and encourage the plant to produce more flowers.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

8 - 10

Flowers:

Blue Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

watering

Tree germander should be watered moderately but regularly. It prefers well-draining soil and likes to remain slightly moist but not waterlogged. Water it deeply when the soil feels dry and don’t let the soil dry out for long periods of time. During the summer months, Tree germander should be watered once a week to once every 2 weeks, depending on the weather and temperature. During the winter, the frequency of watering should be reduced and Tree germander should just be watered when the soil feels dry.

sunlight

Tree germander (Teucrium fruticans) thrives in full sun and prefers at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. If it receives too much shade, it may become leggy and not flower as profusely. For optimal growth, it should be planted in a bright spot that gets direct sun during the morning with some form of light shade in the afternoon. It should be planted in an area that gets consistent sunlight throughout the year. During the hot summer months, it may benefit from indirect sunlight or partial shade during the afternoon.

pruning

Tree germander should be pruned annually in late spring and early summer when the new growth flushes. Pruning should be limited to shaping and controlling size, and no more than 1 third of the plant should be removed at a time to ensure good regrowth and flowering. Some pruning can be done just before winter to remove dead or weak growth. Pruning should be done cautiously and judiciously to preserve high quality structure, and over pruning should be avoided to ensure that the plant can make sufficient growth to retain its structure.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Tree germander typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Tree germander typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map