Groundcover
Creeping Germander
Teucrium cossonii · Lamiaceae
Also called: Majorcan Germander, Fruity Germander, Silver Carpet Germander, Teucrium cossonii subsp. majoricum
Creeping Germander (Teucrium cossonii) is a low-water groundcover well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 4-6 in H x 2-3 ft W in full sun to light shade, with a moderate growth rate. Expect rosy pink to magenta-purple blooms late spring through fall.
Creeping Germander at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to light shade; some afternoon shade is beneficial in the hottest low-desert exposures.
- Mature size
- 4-6 in H x 2-3 ft W
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Rosy pink to magenta-purple, Late spring through fall (roughly May-October), often with a long bloom period.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about 10-15 F (USDA zones 7-10).
- Soil
- Well-drained soils; tolerates poor, rocky, alkaline soils. Sharp drainage prevents rot.
- Native range
- Native to the Balearic Islands (Majorca), Spain, in the Mediterranean. Not native to Arizona.
- Best used as
- Groundcover, Low edging, Spilling over walls and containers, Rock gardens, Mass plantings
- Wildlife
- Fragrant flowers attract bees and butterflies; deer and rabbit resistant.
- Toxicity
- Not commonly reported as toxic; as with other Teucrium, not intended for ingestion.
How to grow Creeping Germander in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established; in Tucson water deeply every 1-2 weeks in summer and reduce in winter. Avoid overwatering and poor drainage.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; an optional light spring feeding with balanced or slow-release fertilizer suffices. Generally grows well without fertilizer.
Pruning & care
Shear lightly after bloom and in late winter to keep the mat dense and refresh foliage; responds well to trimming.
Notes
A very low, dense, fine-textured groundcover with aromatic silvery-green to gray foliage that releases a fruity scent when brushed. Forms a tight low carpet, excellent for small low-water groundcover areas and edging in Tucson landscapes. Often sold as Teucrium cossonii subsp. majoricum.
Sources: AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Mountain States Wholesale Nursery references; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum