Teucrium corymbosum – Forest Germander

Author: Jan Sked

Published: Journal December 2022

Teucrium corymbosum, Forest Germander

Pronounced: TEW-cree-um core-im-BOW-sum
Family: Lamiaceae
Derivation: Teucrium, derived from the Greek teukrion, a name used by Dioscoridis for more than one species of this genus, probably after Teucer, first king of Troy, who first used the plant medicinally; corymbosum, from the Greek corymbos, cluster, with flowers borne in a cluster

Teucrium corymbosum is a perennial herb or subshrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1.5 metres with a woody rootstock. Stems are 4-angled, usually ridged and densely covered with stalkless glands and short greyish hairs.

The opposite pairs of egg-shaped, irregularly toothed leaves, 2-10cm x 6-20mm, are aromatic when rubbed. Their upper surface is hairless and the underside is covered with grey hair.

The flowers are white, tubular, 8–12mm long, 2-lipped, with 5 lobes, and arranged in loose clusters of 5-7 on single stalks in the axils of leafy bracts at the ends of the stems. They occur in spring and summer.

Forest Germander occurs over a wide range in Australia, extending from central eastern Queensland to Tasmania and south-eastern South Australia, and also New Guinea. It is listed as rare in Tasmania. It is usually found in woodland and open forest in dry creek beds, shaded and partially cleared areas, often on rocky ground.

It is suitable as an undershrub for drier shaded gardens. After extended dry periods it may die back to the rootstock, but will reshoot after rain.

Plants can become spindly, but will become bushier with pruning. Best time to prune is after flowering to encourage new foliage.

Propagation is by fresh seed or cuttings. Seeds can take up to 30 days to germinate. Cuttings will strike readily.