Germanders are a welcome addition to a drought resistant garden. Native to the Mediterranean, they adapt well in Central Texas, as long as they have well-drained soils. Read about the varieties available, and try some in your landscape. You won’t be disappointed!
Silver Bush Germander Teucrium fruticans
This evergreen mounding shrub with fragrant silver-gray leaves hails from the Mediterranean, where conditions are similar to our part of Texas. It is native to rocky limestone soils but will tolerate most soils as long as they are well-drained. It grows 4’-6’ tall by 4’-6’ wide, requires full sun and is tolerant to pruning and shaping. It is drought resistant once established, reliably deer resistant and has tiny light blue flowers summer to fall. It is cold tolerant to 0°-10°F. (Zone 7)
Azure Bush Germander Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’
A smaller selection of the Silver Bush Germander, this evergreen shrub grows to 3’-4’ by 4’-5’. It is also drought tolerant once established, deer resistant and requires well-drained soils. The flowers are a deeper blue than the species. While there is no need to prune, it does tolerate shaping nicely. It is also cold tolerant to 0°-10°F. (Zone 7)
Creeping Germander Teucrium cossonii majoricum ‘Mediterranean Carpet’
This low-growing perennial ground cover with aromatic leaves is also native to the Mediterranean where it grows on rocky limestone slopes. Growing only to 4”-6” tall and 2’-3’ wide, it requires full sun and well-drained soils. It is heat and drought tolerant once established as well as deer resistant. If planted near a wall, it will spill over nicely. Pinkish-purple flowers appear in summer. Cold hardy to 0°-10°F (Zone 7)
Wall Germander Teucrium chamydrys ‘Prostratum’
Named for its use in formal “Knot Gardens”, this evergreen perennial from the Mediterranean has glossy green leaves and short spikes of lavender-pink flowers in the summer. Differing from the other Germanders, Wall Germander will tolerate sun or part shade and only grows 1’ tall by 2’-3’ wide. It is also drought tolerant once established and deer resistant, making it a winner as a border plant in the garden. It tolerates pruning well and is cold hardy to -10-0°F. (Zone 6)
