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Vital facts: Bush Germander is an evergreen full sun shrub that is not only fast growing, but also deer resistant with blue azure flowers in late Spring to early Summer. They appreciate full sun and very good drainage, preferably light soil. T. fruticans has been grown for nearly 300 years in gardens as a flowering shrub and formal clipped greyish-green hedge, although regular trimming removes the fine spikes of pale lavender-blue, two-lipped flowers, like those of rosemary.
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Growing conditions: Tolerates poor, rocky soil; performs best in neutral to alkaline conditions; full sun. It grows to 4-6 feet tall with a 6 foot spread. Just like lavender, this is a great one for people on the go during summers, as it likes to be deep watered once or twice a month, and only really hates ‘wet feet’ of overwatering. Use Bush Germander for a rock garden, shrub for low hedge or as a foundation plant in a perennial garden.
A few fun facts: Bush Germander are found growing wild in the Western Mediterranean and have been grown for nearly 300 years in perennial gardens. Germander as a group has many reported medicinal and culinary uses. The reputation of Germander as a specific for gout is of very old date, the Emperor Charles V having been cured by a decoction of this herb taken for sixty days in succession.
Helpful Hints: To best set off its silver color, use with Berberis, Lavenders and Sages. To prevent deer from munching on this fragrant plant in the mint family, make sure to ‘grow it hard’, meaning to let it dry out between waterings. This makes any plant in the mint family (Lavender, Sage, Rosemary) increase the amount of fragrant oil as a defense against the sun and predators, such as deer.
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