Genus: Teucrium

Common Names: various (includes germanders)

Description coming soon.

Distribution: widespread

Teucrium chamaedrys

Common name(s): germander, wall germander

Description: a dense, evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves that resemble those of oaks. Pink flower spikes in summer.

Height: to 15 in. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun, tolerant of poor soil but does best with good drainage

Uses: ornamental- for use as a low hedge and popular in old world knot gardens, and to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Teucrium chamaedrys 'Prostratum'

A lower growing cultivar also known as creeping germander.

Height: to 10 in. Spread: to 3 ft.

Teucrium cossonii SYN: Teucrium majoricum

Common name(s): fruity germander

Description: a rock garden gem; narrow, grey-green foliage that smells of pineapple when crushed. Forms a low evergreen mound and blooms pink-purple flowers in spring and summer.

Height: to 6 in. Spread: to 3 ft.

Position: full sun and perfectly-drained soil

Uses: ornamental- in rock gardens and as a small-scale groundcover, and to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Teucrium flavum

Common name(s): yellow germander

Description: an evergreen subshrub native to the most hostile areas of the Mediterranean. Glossy green foliage and sturdy spikes of pale yellow flowers in summer.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 18 in.

Position: full sun and well-draining soil

Uses: culinary- to flavor wines, bitters, liqueurs, and beers, ornamental- as a specimen plant, and to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 10 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Teucrium fruticans

Common name(s): silver germander, bush germander

Description: an evergreen shrub with multiple adaptations to drought; it has the ability to drop its leaves and enter a complete state of dormancy when devoid of moisture, leaving only a skeleton of hairy, white stems until autumn rains. Grows into a moderately large shrub forming a mound that takes very well to pruning. Blooms pale blue flowers in late spring

Height: to 1 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.

Position: full sun and poor but well-draining soil

Uses: ornamental- as a specimen plant and to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 10 F and below

Drought: adapted to 4 months of summer drought

Teucrium marum

Common name(s): cat thyme

Description: a compact evergreen shrublet with a reputation for stimulating our feline companions into "unusual" behavior- so much so that sprigs of it can be used to train them as a stimulating reward. Fuzzy, gray-green foliage with a very strong aroma when bruised. Clear pink flower spikes in summer

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Position: full sun and well-draining soil, some cats enjoy rolling on young plants and cautions should be taken to prevent this as it will often snap their stems.

Uses: to train/reward cats (dried leaves stronger than fresh ones), ornamental- in rock gardens or in a low border

Winter Hardiness: to 5 F and below

Drought: adapted to 5 months of summer drought