Teucrium canadense (Germander)
| Also known as: | Canada Germander, American Germander, Wood Sage |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Teucrium |
| Family: | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; moist thickets, ditches, woodland edges, along streams |
| Bloom season: | July - August |
| Plant height: | 1 to 4 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACW MW: FACW NCNE: FACW |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/teucrium-canadense-21.jpg)
Spike-like raceme of stalked flowers at the top of the stem, elongating as the plant matures with flowers open near the tip and fruit forming below. Flowers are irregular, about ¾-inch long, pink to lavender, occasionally white. The lower lip is broad with purple spots near the base, the upper lip is shorter and divided into 2 sharply pointed lobes
![[photo of calyx and flower from the side]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/teucrium-canadense-7865347.jpg)
3 or 4 purple-tipped stamens arch over the center of the upper lip. The calyx is bell-shaped, hairy (sometimes glandular) on the outer surface, and has 5 broadly triangular, slightly spreading lobes, the upper 3 lobes typically smaller than the lower 2.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/teucrium-canadense-6789376-9.jpg)
Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, softly hairy, serrated around the edges, usually rounded at the base and taper to a point at the tip, on a stalk up to 5/8 inch long. Leaves are opposite, at right angles to the pair above and below, and often have clusters of a few small leaves in the axils. Stems are square, covered in short hairs and may be branched in the upper plant. Plants can create colonies from spreading rhizomes.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/teucrium-canadense-11.jpg)
The persistent calyx holds 4 1-seeded nutlets that are nearly fused together.
Notes:
Germander can be easily confused with Hedge Nettles, (Stachys spp.) also members of the Mint family, the flowers of which do not have a split upper lip. There are 3 recognized varieties of Germander, 2 of which are present in Minnesota: var. occidentale, which has at least some glandular hairs (especially on the calyx) and straight, spreading hairs on the lower leaf surface; var. virginicum has curled or crooked hairs on the lower leaf surface and no glandular hairs.
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More photos
Germander plant
Germander plants
a colony of Germander
late season Germander
Germander in winterPhotos by K. Chayka taken in Anoka, Goodhue and Ramsey counties. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2012-07-03 19:19:11
I have a photo of this plant if you would like to see it. I spotted it in a field of CRP on July 2, 2012, in the Greenbush and Karlstad MN, area. I had a tough time at first pinning down the species -- it was driving me crazy. But finally got a solid ID. It's a beautiful plant.
on: 2013-07-08 11:14:31
In profuse flower on July 8, 2013 at northeastern end of Lake Hiawatha in the park near the recreational building. Part of the shoreline restoration effort.
on: 2013-07-14 10:01:12
This came up in a patch of my back yard where I had planted hollyhocks. I had weeded around the seedlings, thinking they were something else, and now they are 2-4 feet tall and in flower. It took two days of scouring the internet for me to finally identify the plants. They're cute, attract bees, and are a nice compliment to the hollyhocks just beginning to bloom.
on: 2014-08-11 09:50:56
Found July 31, 2014. Marshy area. I also have photos.
on: 2015-07-11 13:52:12
They dug in the water line last year and it is growing on the wet side of the "hump of dirt". It is only one plant this year and hope it turns into more plants. The hummingbirds have liked the plant a lot. It is about 2 1/2 feet tall.If you want pictures I may be able to get them.Let me know. Thanks.
on: 2017-07-07 12:12:50
This plant showed up in one of my gardens this year. It was really helpful to use this site to identify it. Hopefully my hummingbirds will like it also.
on: 2020-07-04 12:43:38
Along the grass tread hiking trail leading from the arboretum tunnel to the arb office along Hwy 19.
on: 2020-07-08 15:35:33
Growing in rather steep, grassy field between my house and woods in full sun. Small colonies with 4-5 stems per colony. Blooming started around 7/1/2020. Stem brittle, square; leaves with faint vegetal odor, bitter taste.
on: 2020-07-24 16:47:03
These have popped up along the roadways all over SMP this year. Lovely coloring and a nice addition to our wildflower mix in the area.
on: 2020-08-23 00:08:45
1 plant so far
on: 2021-07-11 12:38:41
Blooming now
on: 2021-07-17 21:03:26
Have nit seen this before, but several blooming plants!
on: 2024-07-11 06:27:03
This is spreading steadily in Saint Anthony Park
on: 2024-07-26 12:22:15
I saw this flower thinking it was Marsh Hedge Nettle, but that grows on my shoreline and this was more edge of woodland. I notice leaves opposite, more lanced eliptical, not bristly and wider. Pretty sure I got the ID right.
on: 2024-07-26 12:35:38
Luciearl, the most obvious distinguishing characteristic between this and Stachys is the upper lip on the flowers, which is split on germander but not Stachys.