Skip to main content

American germander

Also known as: wood sage

Teucrium canadense L.

Images

Click on image to view full size

American germander
American germander
American germander
American germander flowers
American germander
American germander
American germander
American germander
American germander
American germander habit
American germander
American germander

Morphology

Stem
Erect, 4-sided, simple or sparingly branched, soft-hairy.
Leaves
Opposite, short-stalked, lanceolate to ovate, 1.5 to 6 inches long, .5 to 2.5 inches wide, lightly hairy or nearly glabrous above, densely whitish gray pubescent below; margins irregularly toothed; tips pointed.
Inflorescence
Spikes, 3 to 12 inches long, terminal, numerous 2-6-flowered, whorl-like clusters.
Flower
Calyces 2-lipped, upper lip 3-toothed, lower lip 2-toothed, often purplish, variously hairy; corollas 2-lipped, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, rose, pink, or lavender with darker spots, upper lip cleft, lobes erect, lower lip prominent, 3-lobed; stamens 4.
Fruit
Nutlets, 4, egg-shaped, glabrous, wrinkled, pale brown, 1-seeded.

Ecology

Habitat
Open or shaded moist sites, thickets, ditches, low areas in pastures, and stream banks.
Distribution
Principally east 2/3 of Kansas.

Practical Information

Forage Value
Prairie chickens will eat the nutlets.

Additional Notes

Comments

American germander forms colonies by rhizomes.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Lamiaceae - Mint Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
1-4 feet
Last Updated
2021-08-28
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: June, July, August, September