Teucrium

The genus Teucrium includes more than 300 species of perennial, herbaceous and semi-shrubby (with a lignified base, from which the remaining green shoots grow annually) plants and evergreen shrubs. They are best suited to the mild coastal climate, which is where they are found in the wild. Common species are shrubby and semi-shrubby. They are characterized by square stems in cross-section and tubular double-lobed (with two lobes) flowers. Widely used for decorative purposes is a low-resistant species of bushy Teucrium fruticans. This shrub is characterized by egg - shaped leaves of brown-green color, fragrant if ground. Lavender-blue flowers bloom from June to September. Teucrium aroanum is an unpretentious semi-shrub species, very compact, low (approximately 10 cm in height), with egg-shaped silver-gray leaves and gray-blue flowers that appear in high summer. Common Teucrium chamaedrys is a stable and compact semi-shrub, sometimes growing up to 40 cm in height, with oval or oval-lanceolate leaves. They are intensely green on the upper side and grayish on the lower side. The flowers are bright pink in color, with the lower lip covered with red and white flecks, and bloom between May and September. True Teucrium marum is a shrub up to 50 cm tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate and even linear in shape. Purple flowers appear in summer. Mountain Teucrium montanum is a not very stable semi-shrub species up to 25 cm high with linear and elliptical leaves, white, cream or yellow flowers bloom in summer.

The genus Teucrium includes more than 300 species of perennial, herbaceous and semi-shrubby (with a lignified base, from which the remaining green shoots grow annually) plants and evergreen shrubs. They are best suited to the mild coastal climate, which is where they are found in the wild. Common species are shrubby and semi-shrubby. They are characterized by square stems in cross-section and tubular double-lobed (with two lobes) flowers.

Widely used for decorative purposes is a low-resistant species of bushy Teucrium fruticans. This shrub is characterized by egg - shaped leaves of brown-green color, fragrant if ground. Lavender-blue flowers bloom from June to September.

Teucrium aroanum is an unpretentious semi-shrub species, very compact, low (approximately 10 cm in height), with egg-shaped silver-gray leaves and gray-blue flowers that appear in high summer.

Common Teucrium chamaedrys is a stable and compact semi-shrub, sometimes growing up to 40 cm in height, with oval or oval-lanceolate leaves. They are intensely green on the upper side and grayish on the lower side. The flowers are bright pink in color, with the lower lip covered with red and white flecks, and bloom between May and September.

True Teucrium marum is a shrub up to 50 cm tall. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate and even linear in shape. Purple flowers appear in summer.

Mountain Teucrium montanum is a not very stable semi-shrub species up to 25 cm high with linear and elliptical leaves, white, cream or yellow flowers bloom in summer.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Teucrium are grown in open ground as ornamental shrubs, as well as in flower beds, borders, hedges and rock gardens. Some species, such as Teucrium aroanum, can also be grown in pots on balconies and terraces. Shrubby species are planted on a permanent planting site in April-May, semi-shrubby-in March-April. They prefer light and well-drained soil. Teucrium aroanum is ideally suited to poor, sparsely fertile soils, where plants retain a compact appearance for a long time. However, when planting, they still need to apply organic fertilizers. fertilizers at the rate of 5-7 kg/m2. When growing in pots, a substrate consisting of 2/3 of light fertile land and 1/3 of peat is used with the addition of 30 g of complex fertilizer per bucket of soil. In spring, once every 20-30 days, a mineral complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 20 g per bucket. In spring, the branches are shortened by half, and dry or damaged ones are removed. In summer, hedges are cut again.

Plants of the genus Teucrium are grown in open ground as ornamental shrubs, as well as in flower beds, borders, hedges and rock gardens. Some species, such as Teucrium aroanum, can also be grown in pots on balconies and terraces. Shrubby species are planted on a permanent planting site in April-May, semi-shrubby-in March-April. They prefer light and well-drained soil. Teucrium aroanum is ideally suited to poor, sparsely fertile soils, where plants retain a compact appearance for a long time. However, when planting, they still need to apply organic fertilizers. fertilizers at the rate of 5-7 kg/m2. When growing in pots, a substrate consisting of 2/3 of light fertile land and 1/3 of peat is used with the addition of 30 g of complex fertilizer per bucket of soil. In spring, once every 20-30 days, a mineral complex fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in the amount of 20 g per bucket. In spring, the branches are shortened by half, and dry or damaged ones are removed. In summer, hedges are cut again.

Location

Requires a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Most of the species are resistant to both high and low air temperatures, such as Teucrium aroanum and Teucrium vulgaris. Teucrium bushy can be grown even in a moderately cold climate, while in winter it is necessary to shelter it from the cold and frost, and for planting choose the most closed place from the winds.

Watering

It is rarely required, only immediately after planting completely in the ground. And potted plants should be watered regularly.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, if the roots of the plant are no longer placed in the same container.

Reproduction

Mostly used taken from the side shoots (and not from the top of the plant; in shrubs - in high summer, in semi-shrub species-in May) semi-woody cuttings 10-15 cm long. They are planted indoors in a soil of peat and sand (1:1), maintaining the temperature at 15 °C. After root formation, the seedlings are transplanted into pots one at a time and exposed to fresh air (in areas with a mild climate) or kept in a cool closed room; they are planted at a permanent planting site next spring (if the winters are cold).

Diseases

Plants of the genus Teucrium, especially in a humid environment, are affected by various fungal infections, which causes the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. In this case, treat with appropriate fungicides. Because of the powdery mildew of grapes, a whitish mold appears, which is eliminated with the help of anti-oidium drugs. Due to the attack of ticks, blackish-yellow specks appear, deforming the leaves, and they are treated with acaricides.