Teucrium Fruticans Shrubby Germander

Teucrium Fruticans is better known as shrubby germander. It’s a small evergreen perennial with pale blue flowers throughout the summer. It suits low maintenance gardens and dry sites.

Shrubby Germander is native to the central and western Mediterranean where it enjoys well drained sunny spots. It will grow in the UK in plenty of sun having been introduced and cultivated here since 1714.

This small perennial shrub has ovate green leaves and hairy stems. The hair, which is called tomentum, is white and covers the underside of the leaves. In summer, long racemes of light blue flowers measuring 2.5 cms in length appear and attract lots of pollinators.

Shrubby germander differs from its cousin wall germander as it is a bigger plant and has paler flowers and foliage.

Height And Spread of Teucrium Fruticans
Shrubby Germander reaches a maximum height of 1.5 metres and the same in spread.

How Hardy Is Teucrium Fruticans
This is a hardy perennial if its roots are well drained. It likes full sun and withstands UK frosts if it’s not waterlogged. Few pests take notice of shrubby germander.

How To Use Teucrium Fruticans
This is a great choice for low maintenance wildlife friendly gardens because it needs little care and attracts lot of bees with its blue flowers. Shrubby germander suits a well-drained sunny mixed border and will grow in a well-watered container on a balcony or deck.

Its foliage is tough enough to withstand coastal sprays and it will tolerate the hot conditions of a wall side border, a rockery, or an urban courtyard garden.

How To Care For Teucrium Fruticans
Little care is required and once established shrubby germander can be left to its own devices. It likes a full sun position but will tolerate some shade in well drained loamy, chalky or sandy soils preferably near a wall for shelter and reflected heat.
There’s no need to prune, but you can deadhead to encourage flowering and trim it back in the winter months to maintain a neat shape and size.