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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Europe, Eastern (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Magenta |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [Teucrium x lucidrys] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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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. This 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. This plant 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 also has a similar meaning as it was derived from the Latin word 'germandra' that has a similar meaning, both in reference to the leaves that do resemble little oak leaves. 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.
This information is based on research conducted about this plant in our nursery library and from reliable online sources. We also take into consideration observations of it in our nursery of crops, as well as of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens we have visited. We will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if it includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Teucrium chamaedrys. |
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