Germander (Teucrium canadense)
Germander flowers attract a variety of native bees, butterflies, and skippers. Other visitors include Hummingbirds and Hummingbird moths coming to seek nectar (illinoiswildflowers.info). Because of the bitter leaves, mammalian herbivores tend not to bother this plant. However, Germander can spread aggressively under the right conditions, and can become rather weedy, so choose your planting spot wisely.
Photo credit: Aaron Carlson
Germander flowers attract a variety of native bees, butterflies, and skippers. Other visitors include Hummingbirds and Hummingbird moths coming to seek nectar (illinoiswildflowers.info). Because of the bitter leaves, mammalian herbivores tend not to bother this plant. However, Germander can spread aggressively under the right conditions, and can become rather weedy, so choose your planting spot wisely.
Photo credit: Aaron Carlson
Germander flowers attract a variety of native bees, butterflies, and skippers. Other visitors include Hummingbirds and Hummingbird moths coming to seek nectar (illinoiswildflowers.info). Because of the bitter leaves, mammalian herbivores tend not to bother this plant. However, Germander can spread aggressively under the right conditions, and can become rather weedy, so choose your planting spot wisely.
Photo credit: Aaron Carlson
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full-Partial shade
Soil Moisture: Medium/wet – Medium/dry
Height: 1.5-4 feet
Plant Spacing: 2-3 feet
Bloom Time: July-September
Bloom Color: Pink, light purple
Advantages: Pollinator Favorite, Deer Resistant
Host Plant: 1 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
