Teucrium fruticans - Tree Germander

The Bush Germander, in Latin Teucrium fruticans, is a small evergreen bush that is very interesting for coastal gardens and dry areas in not too cold climates. Its overall greyish foliage with almost white young stems is decorative all year round and aromatic to the touch. From spring to the end of summer, it produces small pale blue to mauve flowers, quite discreet, which bloom at the tips of the particularly dense foliage. When not pruned, it forms large dense and spreading masses, but it is more frequently used to form low hedges, as it tolerates pruning very well. Hardy up to -10°C or slightly more in very well-drained soil, it withstands wind and sea spray, as well as drought and is not afraid of arid soils.

Teucrium fruticans is a shrub from the Lamiaceae family, which includes many representatives with aromatic foliage, such as sage, mint, lavender, oregano, thyme, and lemon balm. It is native to southern Spain, southern Portugal, and Morocco. In France, this species is spontaneous on the hillsides of the Mediterranean coast, where it is also protected. In the wild, this Teucrium tends to spread in width, forming cushions 1.50m (4ft 11in) or more in height and 2m (6ft 7in) or more in width. This shrub is very decorative throughout the year, both for its foliage and its flowering. The small lanceolate leaves, 1 to 2cm (0.4 to 0.8in) wide and 2 to 3cm (0.8 to 1.2in) long, pointed at their tips, are dark green with a grey down on their upper surface and an almost white grey on their lower surface. Opposite decussate (arranged face to face, with each level offset by 90° (194 °F) from the previous one), they are born on young stems of the same colour as their lower surface, i.e., almost white. This harmony of colours is enhanced by the appearance of pale blue to mauve flowers, perfectly matching the foliage. These small flowers (about 2cm (0.8in)), which resemble certain wild orchids (such as the fascinating Fly Orchid), appear at the axil of the leaves at the tips of the young branches. Appearing from April in the Mediterranean region, a little later elsewhere in France, they persist until summer, or even the end of summer depending on the climatic zones, i.e., 4 to 6 months of continuous flowering!

This bush germander is a sun and arid soil plant, which has its place in a coastal garden, as well as in the Mediterranean region. In cooler regions, it can withstand urban areas, at the foot of a stone wall for example, which will protect it from cold wind. In too cold climates, it can be grown in a container and overwintered in a bright and cool room. A light annual pruning will then help to contain its dimensions. Aesthetically, it is a very interesting plant, one of the few that can blend into a "wild" garden thanks to its natural appearance, as well as in a very structured, contemporary, or French-style garden. Indeed, this Teucrium can be shaped as desired by pruning, for example, into a square hedge, as is frequently the case in the cities of the Midi, as well as into softer and rounded forms. It can easily be integrated into a topiary garden where it will bring its grey and blue tones, alongside classics of the genre with green leaves such as Lonicera nitida, the inevitable yews, and in southern gardens, the myrtles. In a Mediterranean garden, a multitude of combinations are possible, with rockroses, Escallonias, rosemary, or in a wild garden, at the foot of a mastic tree or strawberry tree, for example.