341 Species of Genus Teucrium

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:

  1. Teucrium abolhayatensis Ranjbar & Mahmoudi
  2. Teucrium abutiloides L’Hér.
  3. Teucrium africanum Thunb.
  4. Teucrium afrum (Emb. & Maire) Pau & Font Quer
  5. Teucrium aladagense Vural & H.Duman
  6. Teucrium albicaule Toelken
  7. Teucrium albidum Munby
  8. Teucrium alborubrum Hemsl.
  9. Teucrium × alexeenkoanum Juz.
  10. Teucrium algarbiense (Cout.) Cout.
  11. Teucrium alopecurus de Noé
  12. Teucrium alpestre Sm.
  13. Teucrium × alrumanae M.B.Crespo & J.C.Cristóbal
  14. Teucrium × alvarezii Alcaraz, Sánchez-Gómez, De la Torre & S.Ríos
  15. Teucrium alyssifolium Stapf
  16. Teucrium amplexicaule Benth.
  17. Teucrium andrusi Post
  18. Teucrium angustissimum Schreb.
  19. Teucrium anlungense C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
  20. Teucrium annandalei Mukerjee
  21. Teucrium antiatlanticum (Maire) Sauvage & Vindt
  22. Teucrium antilibanoticum Mouterde
  23. Teucrium antitauricum Ekim
  24. Teucrium apollinis Maire & Weiller
  25. Teucrium aragonense Loscos & J.Pardo
  26. Teucrium arduini L.
  27. Teucrium × arenicola M.B.Crespo & Camuñas
  28. Teucrium argutum R.Br.
  29. Teucrium aristatum Pérez Lara
  30. Teucrium aroanium Orph. ex Boiss.
  31. Teucrium asiaticum L.
  32. Teucrium atratum Pomel
  33. Teucrium aureiforme Pomel
  34. Teucrium aureocandidum Andr.
  35. Teucrium aureum Schreb.
  36. Teucrium × badiae Sennen
  37. Teucrium balearicum (Coss. ex Pau) Castrov. & Bayon
  38. Teucrium balfourii Vierh.
  39. Teucrium balthazaris Sennen
  40. Teucrium baokangensis C.L.Xiang
  41. Teucrium barbarum Jahand. & Maire
  42. Teucrium barbeyanum Asch. & Taub. ex E.A.Durand & Barratte
  43. Teucrium × bergadense Sennen
  44. Teucrium betchei (F.Muell.) Kattari & Salmaki
  45. Teucrium betonicum L’Hér.
  46. Teucrium bicolor Sm.
  47. Teucrium bicoloreum Pau ex Vicioso
  48. Teucrium bidentatum Hemsl.
  49. Teucrium bogoutdinovae Melnikov
  50. Teucrium botrys L.
  51. Teucrium brachyandrum Puech
  52. Teucrium bracteatum Desf.
  53. Teucrium brevifolium Schreb.
  54. Teucrium × bubanii Sennen
  55. Teucrium bullatum Coss. & Balansa
  56. Teucrium burmanicum Mukerjee
  57. Teucrium buxifolium Schreb.
  58. Teucrium campanulatum L.
  59. Teucrium canadense L.
  60. Teucrium canum Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
  61. Teucrium capitatum L.
  62. Teucrium × carmelitanum Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., Peris & E.Laguna
  63. Teucrium carolipaui Vicioso ex Pau
  64. Teucrium carthaginense Lange
  65. Teucrium × carvalhoae A.F.Carrillo, A.Hern., Coy, Güemes & Sánchez-Gómez
  66. Teucrium × castrense Verg.
  67. Teucrium caucasigenum Melnikov
  68. Teucrium cavanillesianum Font Quer & Jeronimo
  69. Teucrium cavernarum P.H.Davis
  70. Teucrium chamaedrys L.
  71. Teucrium chardonianum Maire & Wilczek
  72. Teucrium charidemi Sandwith
  73. Teucrium chasmophyticum Rech.f.
  74. Teucrium chlorocephalum Čelak.
  75. Teucrium chlorostachyum Pau & Font Quer
  76. Teucrium chowii Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia
  77. Teucrium chrysotrichum Lange
  78. Teucrium cincinnatum Maire
  79. Teucrium clementiae Ryding
  80. Teucrium coahuilanum B.L.Turner
  81. Teucrium × coeleste Schreb.
  82. Teucrium compactum Clemente ex Lag.
  83. Teucrium coniortodes Boiss. & C.I.Blanche
  84. Teucrium × conquense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
  85. Teucrium × contejeanii Giraudias
  86. Teucrium corymbiferum Desf.
  87. Teucrium corymbosum R.Br.
  88. Teucrium cossonii D.Wood
  89. Teucrium creticum L.
  90. Teucrium cubense Jacq.
  91. Teucrium cuneifolium Sm.
  92. Teucrium cyprium Boiss.
  93. Teucrium cyrenaicum (Maire & Weiller) Brullo & Furnari
  94. Teucrium daucoides A.R.Bean
  95. Teucrium davaeanum Coss.
  96. Teucrium dealianum Emb. & Maire
  97. Teucrium decaisnei C.Presl
  98. Teucrium decipiens Coss. & Balansa
  99. Teucrium × delatorrei M.B.Crespo & M.Á.Alonso
  100. Teucrium demnatense Coss. ex Batt.
  101. Teucrium depressum Small
  102. Teucrium diabolicum R.W.Davis & Wege
  103. Teucrium disjunctum K.R.Thiele & K.A.Sheph.
  104. Teucrium divaricatum Sieber ex Heldr.
  105. Teucrium × djebalicum Font Quer
  106. Teucrium doumerguei Sennen
  107. Teucrium ducellieri Batt.
  108. Teucrium dumulosum (Rech.f.) Brullo & Guarino
  109. Teucrium dunense Sennen
  110. Teucrium eburneum Thulin
  111. Teucrium edetanum M.B.Crespo, Mateo & T.Navarro
  112. Teucrium × eloualidii Sánchez-Gómez & T.Navarro
  113. Teucrium embergeri (Sauvage & Vindt) El Oualidi, T.Navarro & A.Martin
  114. Teucrium eremaeum Diels
  115. Teucrium eriocephalum Willk.
  116. Teucrium × estevei Alcaraz, Sánchez-Gómez & J.S.Carrión
  117. Teucrium eximium O.Schwartz
  118. Teucrium expassum Pau
  119. Teucrium fallax A.R.Bean
  120. Teucrium faurei Maire
  121. Teucrium × figuerolae R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Per
  122. Teucrium fililobum F.Muell. ex Benth.
  123. Teucrium flavum L.
  124. Teucrium fragile Boiss.
  125. Teucrium franchetianum Rouy & Coincy
  126. Teucrium francisci-werneri Rech.f.
  127. Teucrium francoi M.Seq., Capelo, J.C.Costa & R.Jardim
  128. Teucrium freynii E.Rev. ex Willk.
  129. Teucrium fruticans L.
  130. Teucrium gabrieliae Bornm.
  131. Teucrium gattefossei Emb.
  132. Teucrium glandulosum Kellogg
  133. Teucrium gnaphalodes L’Hér.
  134. Teucrium × gnaphaureum M.B.Crespo & Mateo
  135. Teucrium goetzei Gürke
  136. Teucrium gracile Barbey & Fors.-Major
  137. Teucrium grandifolium R.A.Clement
  138. Teucrium grandiusculum F.Muell. & Tate
  139. Teucrium grosii Pau
  140. Teucrium guanwuense S.S.Ying
  141. Teucrium × guarae-requenae P.P.Ferrer, E.Laguna, Gómez Nav., R.Roselló & Peris
  142. Teucrium × guemesii J.F.Jiménez, A.F.Carrillo, M.A.Carrión
  143. Teucrium × gutierrezii Rubí
  144. Teucrium gypsophilum Emb. & Maire
  145. Teucrium haenseleri Boiss.
  146. Teucrium halacsyanum Heldr.
  147. Teucrium haradjanii Briq. ex Rech.f.
  148. Teucrium helichrysoides (Diels) Greuter & Burdet
  149. Teucrium heterophyllum L’Hér.
  150. Teucrium heterotrichum Briq. ex Rech.f.
  151. Teucrium heynei V.S.Kumar & Chakrab.
  152. Teucrium hieronymi Sennen
  153. Teucrium hifacense Pau
  154. Teucrium hijazicum Hedge & R.A.King
  155. Teucrium hircanicum L.
  156. Teucrium homotrichum (Font Quer) Rivas Mart.
  157. Teucrium huotii Emb. & Maire
  158. Teucrium integrifolium Benth.
  159. Teucrium intricatum Lange
  160. Teucrium irroratum A.R.Bean
  161. Teucrium japonicum Houtt.
  162. Teucrium joannis (Sauvage & Vindt) El Oualidi, T.Navarro & A.Martin
  163. Teucrium jolyi Mathez & Sauvage
  164. Teucrium jordanicum (Danin) Faried
  165. Teucrium junceum (A.Cunn. ex Walp.) Kattari & Heubl
  166. Teucrium kabylicum Batt.
  167. Teucrium karpasiticum Hadjik. & Hand
  168. Teucrium kotschyanum Poech
  169. Teucrium kraussii Codd
  170. Teucrium krymense Juz.
  171. Teucrium kyreniae (P.H.Davis) Hadjik. & Hand
  172. Teucrium labiosum C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
  173. Teucrium laciniatum Torr.
  174. Teucrium lamiifolium d’Urv.
  175. Teucrium lanigerum Lag.
  176. Teucrium laxum D.Don
  177. Teucrium leonis Sennen
  178. Teucrium lepicephalum Pau
  179. Teucrium leucocladum Boiss.
  180. Teucrium leucophyllum Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
  181. Teucrium libanitis Schreb.
  182. Teucrium lini-vaccarii Pamp.
  183. Teucrium × lucentinum M.B.Crespo, M.Á.Alonso, Camuñas & J.C.Cristóbal
  184. Teucrium lucidum L.
  185. Teucrium lusitanicum Schreb.
  186. Teucrium luteum (Mill.) Degen
  187. Teucrium macrophyllum (C.Y.Wu & S.Chow) J.H.Zheng
  188. Teucrium macrum Boiss. & Hausskn.
  189. Teucrium × maestracense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
  190. Teucrium maghrebinum Greuter & Burdet
  191. Teucrium × mailhoi Giraudias
  192. Teucrium malenconianum Maire
  193. Teucrium manghuaense Y.Z.Sun ex S.Chow
  194. Teucrium marum L.
  195. Teucrium mascatense Boiss.
  196. Teucrium massiliense L.
  197. Teucrium × mateoi Solanas, M.B.Crespo & De la Torre
  198. Teucrium maximowiczii Prob.
  199. Teucrium melissoides Boiss. & Hausskn.
  200. Teucrium mesanidum (Litard. & Maire) Sauvage & Vindt
  201. Teucrium micranthum B.J.Conn
  202. Teucrium micropodioides Rouy
  203. Teucrium mideltense (Batt.) Humbert
  204. Teucrium miragestorum Gómez Nav., Roselló, P.P.Ferrer & Peris
  205. Teucrium mitecum Tattou & El Oualidi
  206. Teucrium modestum A.R.Bean
  207. Teucrium montanum L.
  208. Teucrium montbretii Benth.
  209. Teucrium montsianicum R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, Gómez Nav. & Peris
  210. Teucrium × motae Lahora & Sánchez-Gómez
  211. Teucrium × mugronense P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, Gómez Nav. & Guara
  212. Teucrium muletii Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, E.Laguna, Gómez Nav., A.Guillén & Peris
  213. Teucrium multicaule Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
  214. Teucrium murcicum Sennen
  215. Teucrium × murcigerum De Juan, Mart.-Azorín, M.B.Crespo & M.Á.Alonso
  216. Teucrium musimonum Humbert ex Maire
  217. Teucrium myriocladum Diels
  218. Teucrium nanum C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
  219. Teucrium × navarroi Sánchez-Gómez, Güemes, A.F.Carrillo, Coy & A.Hern.
  220. Teucrium novorossicum Melnikov
  221. Teucrium nudicaule Hook.
  222. Teucrium nummulariifolium Baker
  223. Teucrium × ochroleucum Jord.
  224. Teucrium odontites Boiss. & Balansa
  225. Teucrium oliverianum Ging. ex Benth.
  226. Teucrium omeiense Y.Z.Sun
  227. Teucrium orientale L.
  228. Teucrium ornatum Hemsl.
  229. Teucrium oxylepis Font Quer
  230. Teucrium ozturkii A.P.Khokhr.
  231. Teucrium paederotoides Boiss.
  232. Teucrium pampaninii C.Du
  233. Teucrium parviflorum Schreb.
  234. Teucrium parvifolium (Hook.f.) Kattari & Salmaki
  235. Teucrium pernyi Franch.
  236. Teucrium persicum Boiss.
  237. Teucrium pestalozzae Boiss.
  238. Teucrium petelotii Doan ex Suddee & A.J.Paton
  239. Teucrium × pierae Gómez Nav., P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, A.Guillén, E.Laguna & Peris
  240. Teucrium pilbaranum B.J.Conn
  241. Teucrium plectranthoides Gamble
  242. Teucrium polioides Ryding
  243. Teucrium polium L.
  244. Teucrium popovii R.A.King
  245. Teucrium × portusmagni Sánchez-Gómez, A.F.Carrillo, A.Hern. & T.Navarro
  246. Teucrium praepyrenaicum P.P.Ferrer, R.Roselló, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Peris
  247. Teucrium procerum Boiss. & C.I.Blanche
  248. Teucrium proctorii L.O.Williams
  249. Teucrium pruinosum Boiss.
  250. Teucrium pseudaroanium Parolly, Erdag & Nordt
  251. Teucrium × pseudoaragonense M.B.Crespo & Mateo
  252. Teucrium pseudochamaepitys L.
  253. Teucrium pseudoscorodonia Desf.
  254. Teucrium × pseudothymifolium Sánchez-Gómez, Güemes & A.F.Carrillo
  255. Teucrium puberulum (F.Muell.) Kattari & Bräuchler
  256. Teucrium pugionifolium Pau
  257. Teucrium × pujolii Sennen
  258. Teucrium pumilum L.
  259. Teucrium pyrenaicum L.
  260. Teucrium qingyuanense D.L.Chen, Y.L.Xu & B.Y.Ding
  261. Teucrium quadratulum Schreb.
  262. Teucrium quadrifarium Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
  263. Teucrium racemosum R.Br.
  264. Teucrium radicans Bonnet & Barratte
  265. Teucrium ramaswamii M.B.Viswan. & Manik.
  266. Teucrium ramosissimum Desf.
  267. Teucrium reidii Toelken & D.Dean Cunn.
  268. Teucrium resupinatum Desf.
  269. Teucrium rhodocalyx O.Schwartz
  270. Teucrium rifanum (Maire & Sennen) Maire & Sennen
  271. Teucrium rigidum Benth.
  272. Teucrium × rigualii De la Torre & Alcaraz
  273. Teucrium × riosii De la Torre & Alcaraz
  274. Teucrium rivas-martinezii Alcaraz, Garre, Mart.Parras & Peinado
  275. Teucrium × riverae De la Torre & Alcaraz
  276. Teucrium rixanense Ruíz Torre & Ruíz Cast.
  277. Teucrium × robledoi De la Torre & Alcaraz
  278. Teucrium ronnigeri Sennen
  279. Teucrium roselloi Peris, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav. & E.Laguna
  280. Teucrium rotundifolium Schreb.
  281. Teucrium rouyanum H.J.Coste & Soulié
  282. Teucrium royleanum Wall. ex Benth.
  283. Teucrium × rubrovirens Pau
  284. Teucrium rupestre Coss. & Balansa
  285. Teucrium × sagarrae Font Quer
  286. Teucrium sagittatum A.R.Bean
  287. Teucrium salaminium Hadjik. & Hand
  288. Teucrium salviastrum Schreb.
  289. Teucrium sandrasicum O.Schwarz
  290. Teucrium sanguisorbifolium (Pau & Font Quer) Dobignard
  291. Teucrium santae Quézel & Simonn. ex Greuter & Burdet
  292. Teucrium sauvagei Le Houér.
  293. Teucrium scabrum Suddee & A.J.Paton
  294. Teucrium schoenenbergeri Nabli
  295. Teucrium scordium L.
  296. Teucrium scorodonia L.
  297. Teucrium × scorolepis Pajarón & A.Molina
  298. Teucrium semrae Aksoy, Dirmenci & Özcan
  299. Teucrium serpylloides Maire & Weiller
  300. Teucrium sessiliflorum Benth.
  301. Teucrium shanicum Mukerjee
  302. Teucrium siculum (Raf.) Guss.
  303. Teucrium similatum T.Navarro & Rosua
  304. Teucrium simplex Vaniot
  305. Teucrium sirnakense Özcan & Dirmenci
  306. Teucrium socinianum Boiss.
  307. Teucrium socotranum Vierh.
  308. Teucrium somalense Ryding
  309. Teucrium spinosum L.
  310. Teucrium stachyophyllum P.H.Davis
  311. Teucrium stocksianum Boiss.
  312. Teucrium subspinosum Pourr. ex Willd.
  313. Teucrium × sucronicum R.Roselló, P.P.Ferrer, A.Guillén, Gómez Nav., E.Laguna & Per
  314. Teucrium taiwanianum T.H.Hsieh & T.C.Huang
  315. Teucrium tananicum Maire
  316. Teucrium taoshanense S.S.Ying
  317. Teucrium teinense Kudô
  318. Teucrium teresanum Blanca, Cueto & J.Fuentes
  319. Teucrium teucriiflorum (F.Muell.) Kattari & Salmaki
  320. Teucrium thieleanum B.J.Conn
  321. Teucrium thymifolium Schreb.
  322. Teucrium thymoides Pomel
  323. Teucrium townsendii Vasey & Rose
  324. Teucrium trifidum Retz.
  325. Teucrium tsinlingense C.Y.Wu & S.Chow
  326. Teucrium turcicum Çeçen & Özcan
  327. Teucrium × turianum M.B.Crespo, P.P.Ferrer, Roselló, M.A.Alonso, Juan & E.Laguna
  328. Teucrium turredanum Losa & Rivas Goday
  329. Teucrium ussuriense Kom.
  330. Teucrium × vallbonense M.B.Crespo, M.Á.Alonso, Camuñas & J.C.Cristóbal
  331. Teucrium veronicoides Maxim.
  332. Teucrium vesicarium Mill.
  333. Teucrium vincentinum Rouy
  334. Teucrium viscidum Blume
  335. Teucrium wattii Prain
  336. Teucrium webbianum Boiss.
  337. Teucrium werneri Emb.
  338. Teucrium wightii Hook.f.
  339. Teucrium yemense Deflers
  340. Teucrium zaianum Emb. & Maire
  341. 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.

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