Teucrium fruticans azureum (Bush Germander) is a reliable foliage and flowering accent plant. It develops into a large evergreen shrub, 4-8 ft. high, spreading 8-10 ft. across. Distinctive foliage is gray-green above with silvery white hairs beneath. Colorful pale lavender flowers are heaviest in winter to early spring and intermittently throughout the year.
Bush germander comes from rocky slopes in coastal foothill habitats across the western Mediterranean region, particularly Spain and North Africa. It is a hardy plant for zones 8-9: tolerant of heat, frost, wind and periods of drought. It can be clipped to make a hedge or planted in background areas to provide an informal screen. Its gray foliage character makes it well suited to contrast with darker green colors in the landscape. Cultivars include: T. f. ‘Azureum’ grows 4-6 ft. tall and has deeper purple-blue flowers; and T. f. ‘Compactum’ is a small plant to 3 ft. tall and as wide with dark blue flowers.
Plant Type: Shrub
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Spreading, Mounding, Dense
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Gray green
Flower Color: Lavender
Flower Season: Winter, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Rocky soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Frost, Drought, All day sun
Function: Commercial spaces, Banks, Background plant, Attracts bees, Hedge, Slopes, Screening, Residential spaces, Parks and open space, Grouped, Foundations, Foliage accent plant, Flowering accent plant
Height: 4 ft. – 8 ft.
Width: 8 ft. – 10 ft.
Bush germander is well adapted to to drought and needs low amounts of supplemental water during summer.
Usually does not require pruning, but can be pruned to make a low hedge, more compact form, or small topiary. Light shaping can be done at any time. Branch thinning or harder cut-backs are best done in early spring before the season’s growth begins
