Teucrium x lucidrys - Germandrée luisante, Teucrium luisant

The Teucrium × lucidrys is a groundcover undershrub, prized for its robustness, its glossy evergreen foliage and its long flowering period of a somewhat mauve pink. Its low-growing vegetation spreads into a dense cushion, enlivened all summer long by numerous small upright spikes. More spreading than a perennial groundcover, yet less rigid than a dwarf shrub, this germander thrives among stones, on a dry bank or at the top of a low wall. It withstands heat, poor soils and dry summers.

This plant of the Lamiaceae family is a horticultural hybrid between Teucrium chamaedrys and T. lucidum. The former, known as wall germander, grows on dry lawns, stony hillsides and chalky soils across much of Europe. The latter, the shiny germander, belongs to the flora of the rocky slopes of the south-western Alps. The hybrid has a compact habit, good hardiness and particularly glossy leaves. The Teucrium × lucidrys develops woody stems at the base, at first prostrate or oblique, then upright at their tips. It reaches approximately 30 cm in height with a 40-50 cm spread and gradually forms a small spreading bush, capable of trailing slightly over the edge of a stone structure. Its leaves, 1 to 2 cm long, are oval, thick and edged with rounded teeth reminiscent of tiny oak leaves. Their upper surface, dark green and glossy, gives the plant a neat appearance. They release a spicy scent when crushed, but this germander is not a culinary herb. The foliage generally remains present in winter in mild regions. Severe cold may burn the tips of the stems, without compromising growth in spring. From June to September, or even from May in mild climates, short upright stems bear successive clusters of flowers about 1 cm in size. Their colour ranges between lilac pink and purplish pink. This flowering attracts bees and other pollinating insects. Hardy to approximately -18 °C in dry, porous soil, the plant suffers more from winter dampness than from cold. It tolerates wind and can be grown near the coast, provided it is not directly exposed to sea spray.

In a large dry rock garden or along a gravel path, Teucrium × lucidrys can be paired with its golden form ‘Lucky Gold’, with the white Helianthemum ‘The Bride’ with a golden centre, and with winter savory. This groundcover also combines well with compact lavandins and with Corsican spurge Euphorbia myrsinites. All these plants enjoy sun and poor, dry, chalky soils. Their varied foliage, shapes and flowering periods help to bring life to a dry area of the garden for several months.