# American germander (*Teucrium canadense*) The American germander is a lovely plant with small purple flowers. It grows in sunny spots and is often found near water. This plant is great for attracting butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![American germander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/American_Germander_%282981720555%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Homer Edward Price, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Germander_%282981720555%29.jpg) ## Appearance The American germander is a slender perennial with square stems and opposite, spear-shaped leaves. It displays showy spikes of pink, purplish-pink, or sometimes white, two-lipped flowers. Its distinctive upright flower clusters rise above the foliage, making it visually appealing. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Teucrium ## Interesting facts - It's a fantastic native plant that helps many local insects find food and shelter! - Its scientific name 'Teucrium' might come from King Teucer, who supposedly used it for medicine! - Its tiny flowers have only a lower lip, giving them a unique appearance! - This plant is sometimes called 'wood sage' even though it's not a true sage herb! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Recon:** American germander can spread underground with special roots called rhizomes, helping it explore and colonize new patches of soil. - **Nectar Beacon:** This plant has sweet nectar in its flowers that acts like a delicious treat, attracting buzzing bees and beautiful butterflies. - **Square Stem Strength:** American germander has uniquely square-shaped stems, which give it extra strength and rigidity to stand tall in its habitat. - **Moisture Maestro:** American germander can thrive in both damp and drier soils, adapting its growth to different moisture levels in its home. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on flower nectar. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American germander? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American germander? 30-120 cm ### How wide does American germander spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on American germander? 1-2 cm ### When does American germander bloom? Late spring to early fall ### Is American germander edible? No ### Is American germander toxic? None ### What is American germander's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Oak Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oak-ridge-historic-district) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Ortega](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ortega) — Florida, US · Neighborhood - [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Shaw Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shaw-nature-reserve) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Augusta Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/augusta-botanical-gardens) — Georgia, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see American germander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-germander) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American germander: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-germander)