Bush germander is a reliable foliage and flowering accent plant. It develops into a large evergreen shrub, 4-8 ft. high, spreading 8-10 ft. across. Distinctive foliage is gray-green above with silvery white hairs beneath. Colorful pale lavender flowers are heaviest in winter to early spring and intermittently throughout the year.
Bush germander comes from rocky slopes in coastal foothill habitats across the western Mediterranean region, particularly Spain and North Africa. It is a hardy plant for all parts of the Inland Empire tolerant of heat, frost, wind and periods of drought. It can be clipped to make a hedge or planted in background areas to provide an informal screen. Its gray foliage character makes it well suited to contrast with darker green colors in the landscape. Cultivars include: T. f. ‘Azureum’ grows 4-6 ft. tall and has deeper purple-blue flowers; and T. f. ‘Compactum’ is a small plant to 3 ft. tall and as wide with dark blue flowers.
