Teucrium fruticans Ventecu

Teucrium fruticans 'Ventecu' is one of the best varieties of the Shrubby Germander, a drought-tolerant and poor soil bush widely planted in gardens in the Mediterranean region. This bush forms a compact, dense mass of white stems with evergreen silver-grey foliage that perfectly showcases its deep blue flowers. A spectacle that is even more appreciated because it begins in autumn in mild climates and lasts for several months. Other advantages of this germander are its excellent pruning tolerance and resistance to long dry summers. Its only drawback is its limited cold resistance, down to -8/-10°C (17.6/14°F) at the most.

The 'Ventecu' Shrubby Germander is a bush from the mint family, closely related to salvias, mints, and lavenders. Its parent plant, Teucrium fruticans, is native to southern Spain, southern Portugal, and Morocco. In the wild, it can reach 2m (7ft) in all directions. It thrives in sunny and poor soil conditions and can withstand brief frosts of around -12°C (10.4°F).

This cultivar, sometimes sold under the name 'Curaçao', is a French horticultural creation by Vertnantes S.A.R.L dating back to 2019. It stands out from the species with its more compact habit and its much more intense blue flowers (the pale blue-lilac flowers of the wild species are quite discreet). The bush develops square woody stems, covered with a white down, strongly branching at right angles and interlocking to form a dense and overall rounded mass. When fully mature, this variety will reach 80cm (32in) in all directions, up to 1m (3ft) in favourable climates if not regularly pruned. The branches bear small oval, evergreen leaves which are slightly aromatic when crushed. They are covered with a fine white down, giving them a silvery colour that becomes even lighter in dry and warm conditions. The undersides of the leaves are very downy and almost white. The flowering lasts for at least 3 months from October to April-May in the Mediterranean region, and from April to August further north. Small two-lipped, 1.5cm (1in) long flowers veined with bluish-purple on a bright blue background, form in the leaf axils.

When pruned into a ball shape, like box, Teucrium fruticans 'Ventecu' is strikingly original. It can also be used in low shrub borders, as a standalone feature in a rock garden, or in containers on the terrace. It is an ideal bush for coastal areas or dry gardens. You can recreate an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere by pairing it with rockroses, rosemary, and Westringia, bushy salvias, bushy potentillas, etc.