Teucrium: A Gardener’s Appreciation
My name is Ferb Vu, and I’m an avid gardener with a particular fondness for the genus Teucrium. These plants, commonly known as germanders, have captivated me with their resilience, versatility, and understated beauty. They’re not the flashiest blooms in the garden, but their subtle charm and adaptability have earned them a special place in my heart, and hopefully, in yours too.
Understanding the Teucrium Genus
Teucrium belongs to the Lamiaceae family, a group that includes many aromatic herbs like mint, sage, and rosemary. What sets Teucrium apart are their unique flowers. They lack an upper lip, giving them a distinctive appearance. Imagine a tiny orchid, with its petals arranged in a delicate, almost whimsical fashion. That’s the essence of a Teucrium flower.
These plants are remarkably tough. They thrive in dry, sunny conditions, making them perfect for xeriscaping or rock gardens. They’re also relatively pest and disease-free, which is a huge bonus for any gardener. But it’s not just their practicality that appeals to me; it’s their quiet elegance.
The foliage of Teucrium is often aromatic, ranging from minty to fruity scents depending on the species. The leaves themselves are typically small and slightly fuzzy, creating a soft, textured effect. And then there are the flowers. They come in a range of colors, from the softest pinks and whites to vibrant purples and blues. They may be small, but they bloom profusely, creating a haze of color that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
A Diverse Family
The Teucrium genus is surprisingly diverse, with over 300 species scattered across the globe. Here are:
- Teucrium abolhayatensis Ranjbar & Mahmoudi
- Teucrium abutiloides L’Hér.
- Teucrium africanum Thunb.
- Teucrium afrum (Emb. & Maire) Pau & Font Quer
- Teucrium aladagense Vural & H.Duman
- Teucrium albicaule Toelken
- Teucrium albidum Munby
- Teucrium alborubrum Hemsl.
- Teucrium × alexeenkoanum Juz.
- Teucrium algarbiense (Cout.) Cout.
- Teucrium alopecurus de Noé
- Teucrium alpestre Sm.
- Teucrium × alrumanae M.B.Crespo & J.C.Cristóbal
- Teucrium × alvarezii Alcaraz, Sánchez-Gómez, De la Torre & S.Ríos
- Teucrium alyssifolium Stapf
- Teucrium amplexicaule Benth.
- Teucrium andrusi Post
- Teucrium angustissimum Schreb.
- Teucrium anlungense C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
- Teucrium annandalei Mukerjee
- Teucrium antiatlanticum (Maire) Sauvage & Vindt
- Teucrium antilibanoticum Mouterde
- Teucrium antitauricum Ekim
- Teucrium apollinis Maire & Weiller
- Teucrium aragonense Loscos & J.Pardo
- Teucrium arduini L.
- Teucrium × arenicola M.B.Crespo & Camuñas
- Teucrium argutum R.Br.
- Teucrium aristatum Pérez Lara
- Teucrium aroanium Orph. ex Boiss.
- Teucrium asiaticum L.
- Teucrium atratum Pomel
- Teucrium aureiforme Pomel
- Teucrium aureocandidum Andr.
- Teucrium aureum Schreb.
- Teucrium × badiae Sennen
- Teucrium balearicum (Coss. ex Pau) Castrov. & Bayon
- Teucrium balfourii Vierh.
- Teucrium balthazaris Sennen
- Teucrium baokangensis C.L.Xiang
- Teucrium barbarum Jahand. & Maire
- Teucrium barbeyanum Asch. & Taub. ex E.A.Durand & Barratte
- Teucrium × bergadense Sennen
- Teucrium betchei (F.Muell.) Kattari & Salmaki
- Teucrium betonicum L’Hér.
- Teucrium bicolor Sm.
- Teucrium bicoloreum Pau ex Vicioso
- Teucrium bidentatum Hemsl.
- Teucrium bogoutdinovae Melnikov
- Teucrium botrys L.
- Teucrium brachyandrum Puech
- Teucrium bracteatum Desf.
- Teucrium brevifolium Schreb.
- Teucrium × bubanii Sennen
- Teucrium bullatum Coss. & Balansa
- Teucrium burmanicum Mukerjee
- Teucrium buxifolium Schreb.
- Teucrium campanulatum L.
- Teucrium canadense L.
- Teucrium canum Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Teucrium capitatum L.
- Teucrium × carmelitanum Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., Peris & E.Laguna
- Teucrium carolipaui Vicioso ex Pau
- Teucrium carthaginense Lange
- Teucrium × carvalhoae A.F.Carrillo, A.Hern., Coy, Güemes & Sánchez-Gómez
- Teucrium × castrense Verg.
- Teucrium caucasigenum Melnikov
- Teucrium cavanillesianum Font Quer & Jeronimo
- Teucrium cavernarum P.H.Davis
- Teucrium chamaedrys L.
- Teucrium chardonianum Maire & Wilczek
- Teucrium charidemi Sandwith
- Teucrium chasmophyticum Rech.f.
- Teucrium chlorocephalum Čelak.
- Teucrium chlorostachyum Pau & Font Quer
- Teucrium chowii Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia
- Teucrium chrysotrichum Lange
- Teucrium cincinnatum Maire
- Teucrium clementiae Ryding
- Teucrium coahuilanum B.L.Turner
- Teucrium × coeleste Schreb.
- Teucrium compactum Clemente ex Lag.
- Teucrium coniortodes Boiss. & C.I.Blanche
- Teucrium × conquense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
- Teucrium × contejeanii Giraudias
- Teucrium corymbiferum Desf.
- Teucrium corymbosum R.Br.
- Teucrium cossonii D.Wood
- Teucrium creticum L.
- Teucrium cubense Jacq.
- Teucrium cuneifolium Sm.
- Teucrium cyprium Boiss.
- Teucrium cyrenaicum (Maire & Weiller) Brullo & Furnari
- Teucrium daucoides A.R.Bean
- Teucrium davaeanum Coss.
- Teucrium dealianum Emb. & Maire
- Teucrium decaisnei C.Presl
- Teucrium decipiens Coss. & Balansa
- Teucrium × delatorrei M.B.Crespo & M.Á.Alonso
- Teucrium demnatense Coss. ex Batt.
- Teucrium depressum Small
- Teucrium diabolicum R.W.Davis & Wege
- Teucrium disjunctum K.R.Thiele & K.A.Sheph.
- Teucrium divaricatum Sieber ex Heldr.
- Teucrium × djebalicum Font Quer
- Teucrium doumerguei Sennen
- Teucrium ducellieri Batt.
- Teucrium dumulosum (Rech.f.) Brullo & Guarino
- Teucrium dunense Sennen
- Teucrium eburneum Thulin
- Teucrium edetanum M.B.Crespo, Mateo & T.Navarro
- Teucrium × eloualidii Sánchez-Gómez & T.Navarro
- Teucrium embergeri (Sauvage & Vindt) El Oualidi, T.Navarro & A.Martin
- Teucrium eremaeum Diels
- Teucrium eriocephalum Willk.
- Teucrium × estevei Alcaraz, Sánchez-Gómez & J.S.Carrión
- Teucrium eximium O.Schwartz
- Teucrium expassum Pau
- Teucrium fallax A.R.Bean
- Teucrium faurei Maire
- Teucrium × figuerolae R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Per
- Teucrium fililobum F.Muell. ex Benth.
- Teucrium flavum L.
- Teucrium fragile Boiss.
- Teucrium franchetianum Rouy & Coincy
- Teucrium francisci-werneri Rech.f.
- Teucrium francoi M.Seq., Capelo, J.C.Costa & R.Jardim
- Teucrium freynii E.Rev. ex Willk.
- Teucrium fruticans L.
- Teucrium gabrieliae Bornm.
- Teucrium gattefossei Emb.
- Teucrium glandulosum Kellogg
- Teucrium gnaphalodes L’Hér.
- Teucrium × gnaphaureum M.B.Crespo & Mateo
- Teucrium goetzei Gürke
- Teucrium gracile Barbey & Fors.-Major
- Teucrium grandifolium R.A.Clement
- Teucrium grandiusculum F.Muell. & Tate
- Teucrium grosii Pau
- Teucrium guanwuense S.S.Ying
- Teucrium × guarae-requenae P.P.Ferrer, E.Laguna, Gómez Nav., R.Roselló & Peris
- Teucrium × guemesii J.F.Jiménez, A.F.Carrillo, M.A.Carrión
- Teucrium × gutierrezii Rubí
- Teucrium gypsophilum Emb. & Maire
- Teucrium haenseleri Boiss.
- Teucrium halacsyanum Heldr.
- Teucrium haradjanii Briq. ex Rech.f.
- Teucrium helichrysoides (Diels) Greuter & Burdet
- Teucrium heterophyllum L’Hér.
- Teucrium heterotrichum Briq. ex Rech.f.
- Teucrium heynei V.S.Kumar & Chakrab.
- Teucrium hieronymi Sennen
- Teucrium hifacense Pau
- Teucrium hijazicum Hedge & R.A.King
- Teucrium hircanicum L.
- Teucrium homotrichum (Font Quer) Rivas Mart.
- Teucrium huotii Emb. & Maire
- Teucrium integrifolium Benth.
- Teucrium intricatum Lange
- Teucrium irroratum A.R.Bean
- Teucrium japonicum Houtt.
- Teucrium joannis (Sauvage & Vindt) El Oualidi, T.Navarro & A.Martin
- Teucrium jolyi Mathez & Sauvage
- Teucrium jordanicum (Danin) Faried
- Teucrium junceum (A.Cunn. ex Walp.) Kattari & Heubl
- Teucrium kabylicum Batt.
- Teucrium karpasiticum Hadjik. & Hand
- Teucrium kotschyanum Poech
- Teucrium kraussii Codd
- Teucrium krymense Juz.
- Teucrium kyreniae (P.H.Davis) Hadjik. & Hand
- Teucrium labiosum C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
- Teucrium laciniatum Torr.
- Teucrium lamiifolium d’Urv.
- Teucrium lanigerum Lag.
- Teucrium laxum D.Don
- Teucrium leonis Sennen
- Teucrium lepicephalum Pau
- Teucrium leucocladum Boiss.
- Teucrium leucophyllum Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
- Teucrium libanitis Schreb.
- Teucrium lini-vaccarii Pamp.
- Teucrium × lucentinum M.B.Crespo, M.Á.Alonso, Camuñas & J.C.Cristóbal
- Teucrium lucidum L.
- Teucrium lusitanicum Schreb.
- Teucrium luteum (Mill.) Degen
- Teucrium macrophyllum (C.Y.Wu & S.Chow) J.H.Zheng
- Teucrium macrum Boiss. & Hausskn.
- Teucrium × maestracense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
- Teucrium maghrebinum Greuter & Burdet
- Teucrium × mailhoi Giraudias
- Teucrium malenconianum Maire
- Teucrium manghuaense Y.Z.Sun ex S.Chow
- Teucrium marum L.
- Teucrium mascatense Boiss.
- Teucrium massiliense L.
- Teucrium × mateoi Solanas, M.B.Crespo & De la Torre
- Teucrium maximowiczii Prob.
- Teucrium melissoides Boiss. & Hausskn.
- Teucrium mesanidum (Litard. & Maire) Sauvage & Vindt
- Teucrium micranthum B.J.Conn
- Teucrium micropodioides Rouy
- Teucrium mideltense (Batt.) Humbert
- Teucrium miragestorum Gómez Nav., Roselló, P.P.Ferrer & Peris
- Teucrium mitecum Tattou & El Oualidi
- Teucrium modestum A.R.Bean
- Teucrium montanum L.
- Teucrium montbretii Benth.
- Teucrium montsianicum R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, Gómez Nav. & Peris
- Teucrium × motae Lahora & Sánchez-Gómez
- Teucrium × mugronense P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, Gómez Nav. & Guara
- Teucrium muletii Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, E.Laguna, Gómez Nav., A.Guillén & Peris
- Teucrium multicaule Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
- Teucrium murcicum Sennen
- Teucrium × murcigerum De Juan, Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & M.Á.Alonso
- Teucrium musimonum Humbert ex Maire
- Teucrium myriocladum Diels
- Teucrium nanum C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
- Teucrium × navarroi Sánchez-Gómez, Güemes, A.F.Carrillo, Coy & A.Hern.
- Teucrium novorossicum Melnikov
- Teucrium nudicaule Hook.
- Teucrium nummulariifolium Baker
- Teucrium × ochroleucum Jord.
- Teucrium odontites Boiss. & Balansa
- Teucrium oliverianum Ging. ex Benth.
- Teucrium omeiense Y.Z.Sun
- Teucrium orientale L.
- Teucrium ornatum Hemsl.
- Teucrium oxylepis Font Quer
- Teucrium ozturkii A.P.Khokhr.
- Teucrium paederotoides Boiss.
- Teucrium pampaninii C.Du
- Teucrium parviflorum Schreb.
- Teucrium parvifolium (Hook.f.) Kattari & Salmaki
- Teucrium pernyi Franch.
- Teucrium persicum Boiss.
- Teucrium pestalozzae Boiss.
- Teucrium petelotii Doan ex Suddee & A.J.Paton
- Teucrium × pierae Gómez Nav., P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, A.Guillén, E.Laguna & Peris
- Teucrium pilbaranum B.J.Conn
- Teucrium plectranthoides Gamble
- Teucrium polioides Ryding
- Teucrium polium L.
- Teucrium popovii R.A.King
- Teucrium × portusmagni Sánchez-Gómez, A.F.Carrillo, A.Hern. & T.Navarro
- Teucrium praepyrenaicum P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Peris
- Teucrium procerum Boiss. & C.I.Blanche
- Teucrium proctorii L.O.Williams
- Teucrium pruinosum Boiss.
- Teucrium pseudaroanium Parolly, Erdag & Nordt
- Teucrium × pseudoaragonense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
- Teucrium pseudochamaepitys L.
- Teucrium pseudoscorodonia Desf.
- Teucrium × pseudothymifolium Sánchez-Gómez, Güemes & A.F.Carrillo
- Teucrium puberulum (F.Muell.) Kattari & Bräuchler
- Teucrium pugionifolium Pau
- Teucrium × pujolii Sennen
- Teucrium pumilum L.
- Teucrium pyrenaicum L.
- Teucrium qingyuanense D.L.Chen, Y.L.Xu & B.Y.Ding
- Teucrium quadratulum Schreb.
- Teucrium quadrifarium Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
- Teucrium racemosum R.Br.
- Teucrium radicans Bonnet & Barratte
- Teucrium ramaswamii M.B.Viswan. & Manik.
- Teucrium ramosissimum Desf.
- Teucrium reidii Toelken & D.Dean Cunn.
- Teucrium resupinatum Desf.
- Teucrium rhodocalyx O.Schwartz
- Teucrium rifanum (Maire & Sennen) Maire & Sennen
- Teucrium rigidum Benth.
- Teucrium × rigualii De la Torre & Alcaraz
- Teucrium × riosii De la Torre & Alcaraz
- Teucrium rivas-martinezii Alcaraz, Garre, Mart.Parras & Peinado
- Teucrium × riverae De la Torre & Alcaraz
- Teucrium rixanense Ruíz Torre & Ruíz Cast.
- Teucrium × robledoi De la Torre & Alcaraz
- Teucrium ronnigeri Sennen
- Teucrium roselloi Peris, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav. & E.Laguna
- Teucrium rotundifolium Schreb.
- Teucrium rouyanum H.J.Coste & Soulié
- Teucrium royleanum Wall. ex Benth.
- Teucrium × rubrovirens Pau
- Teucrium rupestre Coss. & Balansa
- Teucrium × sagarrae Font Quer
- Teucrium sagittatum A.R.Bean
- Teucrium salaminium Hadjik. & Hand
- Teucrium salviastrum Schreb.
- Teucrium sandrasicum O.Schwarz
- Teucrium sanguisorbifolium (Pau & Font Quer) Dobignard
- Teucrium santae Quézel & Simonn. ex Greuter & Burdet
- Teucrium sauvagei Le Houér.
- Teucrium scabrum Suddee & A.J.Paton
- Teucrium schoenenbergeri Nabli
- Teucrium scordium L.
- Teucrium scorodonia L.
- Teucrium × scorolepis Pajarón & A.Molina
- Teucrium semrae Aksoy, Dirmenci & Özcan
- Teucrium serpylloides Maire & Weiller
- Teucrium sessiliflorum Benth.
- Teucrium shanicum Mukerjee
- Teucrium siculum (Raf.) Guss.
- Teucrium similatum T.Navarro & Rosua
- Teucrium simplex Vaniot
- Teucrium sirnakense Özcan & Dirmenci
- Teucrium socinianum Boiss.
- Teucrium socotranum Vierh.
- Teucrium somalense Ryding
- Teucrium spinosum L.
- Teucrium stachyophyllum P.H.Davis
- Teucrium stocksianum Boiss.
- Teucrium subspinosum Pourr. ex Willd.
- Teucrium × sucronicum R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Per
- Teucrium taiwanianum T.H.Hsieh & T.C.Huang
- Teucrium tananicum Maire
- Teucrium taoshanense S.S.Ying
- Teucrium teinense Kudô
- Teucrium teresanum Blanca, Cueto & J.Fuentes
- Teucrium teucriiflorum (F.Muell.) Kattari & Salmaki
- Teucrium thieleanum B.J.Conn
- Teucrium thymifolium Schreb.
- Teucrium thymoides Pomel
- Teucrium townsendii Vasey & Rose
- Teucrium trifidum Retz.
- Teucrium tsinlingense C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
- Teucrium turcicum Çeçen & Özcan
- Teucrium × turianum M.B.Crespo, P.P.Ferrer, Roselló, M.A.Alonso, Juan & E.Laguna
- Teucrium turredanum Losa & Rivas Goday
- Teucrium ussuriense Kom.
- Teucrium × vallbonense M.B.Crespo, M.Á.Alonso, Camuñas & J.C.Cristóbal
- Teucrium veronicoides Maxim.
- Teucrium vesicarium Mill.
- Teucrium vincentinum Rouy
- Teucrium viscidum Blume
- Teucrium wattii Prain
- Teucrium webbianum Boiss.
- Teucrium werneri Emb.
- Teucrium wightii Hook.f.
- Teucrium yemense Deflers
- Teucrium zaianum Emb. & Maire
- Teucrium zanonii Pamp.
My Experience with Teucrium
I first encountered Teucrium while visiting a botanical garden. I was immediately drawn to a Teucrium fruticans hedge, its silvery foliage shimmering in the sunlight. I was captivated by its understated beauty and decided to try growing it myself.
Since then, I’ve experimented with several Teucrium species, incorporating them into my borders, rock gardens, and even containers. I’ve found them to be incredibly low-maintenance and remarkably resilient. They’ve survived scorching summers and unexpected frosts, always bouncing back with renewed vigor.
One of my favorite things about Teucrium is their ability to attract pollinators. My garden is always abuzz with bees and butterflies when the germanders are in bloom. It’s a joy to watch these creatures flitting from flower to flower, collecting nectar and spreading pollen.
Why I Recommend Teucrium
If you’re looking for a plant that is both beautiful and practical, I highly recommend giving Teucrium a try. They’re perfect for busy gardeners who want a low-maintenance yet attractive addition to their landscape.
Here are just a few reasons why I think you’ll love Teucrium:
- Drought tolerance: They thrive in dry conditions, making them ideal for water-wise gardening.
- Pest and disease resistance: They’re relatively trouble-free, requiring minimal intervention.
- Attractive foliage: Their leaves offer interesting textures and sometimes delightful aromas.
- Beautiful blooms: Their unique flowers add a touch of understated elegance to the garden.
- Pollinator-friendly: They attract beneficial insects, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Teucrium is a genus worth exploring. Their versatility, resilience, and understated beauty make them a valuable asset to any garden. I encourage you to discover the charm of these remarkable plants for yourself.
