Germander

Brand: Sara’s Superb Herbs®

Color: Green Shades, Pink Shades

Features:

• Compact
• Deep, lustrous green, small leaves
• Evergreen
• Perfect for planting in groups
• Fragrant
• Small, rose colored flowers mid-summer through fall
• Perennial

Details: No herbal landscape should be without this compact beauty! Deep, lustrous green, small leaves are packed densely together on the branches of this miniature perennial evergreen plant. Germander is perfect for planting in groups for a formal effect such as low hedging or edging in an herb garden. Its leaves release a heavenly scent when crushed and germander's small, rose colored flowers liberally sprinkle the plant from mid-summer through fall. Germander loves half to full day sun conditions and well-drained soil. Pruning is easy and effective to maintain germander's shape in a formal setting or just to experience its aromatic foliage. It’s a perennial.

Growing Tips:
Cultivation and Propagation: Germander is a shrubby perennial with a creeping rootstock, upright to spreading stems, and shiny, oval, evergreen leaves that resemble oak leaves. They are aromatic when crushed. It grows tall and spreads from 4 to 10 inches. Small, rosy, 2-lipped flowers appear in summer and last the entire growing season. Germander likes average, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.3 in full sun or partial shade. It does well in containers in full sun. Germander is hardy to zone 5, but mine do well in zone 4 in a sheltered location, mulched in the fall for winter protection. Prune well in the spring to encourage branching and to shape.

It can be started from seed, but it might take up to 30 days to germinate. It is best to buy plants from a reputable nursery. Once established, it can be propagated by cuttings in spring, layering during the growing season, or division in the fall. Because of its trailing habit, the plant's stems can be easily pinned to the ground and will automatically put out roots. Space plants a foot apart.

Pests: Can get mildew, leaf spot, rust, and mites, according to authorities, but mine never get any of those.