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Teucrium chamaedrys (Wall Germander) - This low-growing evergreen dark green subshrub grows 2 feet tall and spreads 2-3 feet by underground rhizomes. It has small leaves that have deeply serrated edges and in late spring into summer, spikes of magenta-pink colored flowers rise above the foliage.
Plant in full sun and water occasionally. Thrives in heat and most any soil and is hardy to 0 degrees F. Lightly shear in late winter to keep dense and neat. A great clean looking plant for a low hedge or edging plant and attractive to bees and butterflies.
Teucrium chamaedrys has a widespread distribution throughout Europe from the Balearic Islands on the Mediterranean Sea north to Holland, west to Portugal and east to Turkey and central Russia. The name for the genus has several possible derivations but most likely it is from the Greek name Teucer, a king of Troy, who is said to have used the plant medicinally. The specific epithet is from the Greek words 'khamai' meaning "ground" and 'drus' meaning "oak" and the common name is from Late Middle English from the French word germandrée which is itself a translation of the Medieval Latin 'chamaedrys', both in reference the leaves that do resemble little oak leaves. The species plant that was once valued for folk medicinal qualities in the treatment of gout, inflammation, respiratory and stomach ailments but less so now as it is recognized that its use risks liver damage. That is a certain amount of confusion whether Teucrium chamaedrys is distinct from the plant called Teucrium x lucidrys which by most accounts is an unresolved name of purported hybrid between Teucrium chamaedrys and T. lucidum that was first described in 1957.
Information displayed on this page about Teucrium chamaedrys is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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