Teucrium chamaedrys, the wall germander, is a species of plant native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa, and the Middle East as far as Iran.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesAltervista Flora ItalianaCastroviejo, S. & al. (eds.) (2010). Flora Iberica 12: 1-650. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid.Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2012). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 4: 1-431. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève. It is used as an ornamental.
Subspecies Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. albarracinii (Pau) Rech.f. - France, Spain Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. algeriense Rech.f. - Algeria Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys - central + southern Europe, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. germanicum (F.Herm.) Rech.f. - France, Germany Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. gracile (Batt.) Rech.f. - Algeria, Morocco Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. lydium O.Schwarz - Greece, Turkey Teucrium chamaedrys var. multinodum Bordz. - Caucasus Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. nuchense (K.Koch) Rech.f. - Caucasus Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. olympicum Rech.f. - Greece Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pectinatum Rech.f. - France, Italy Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. pinnatifidum (Sennen) Rech.f. - France, Spain Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. sinuatum (Celak.) Rech.f. - Iran, Iraq, Turkey Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. syspirense (K.Koch) Rech.f. - Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. tauricola Rech.f. - Turkey, Syria Teucrium chamaedrys subsp. trapezunticum Rech.f. - Caucasus, Turkey
Appearance Wall germander is a creeping evergreen perennial 6–18 inches tall. Its scalloped, opposite leaves are 0.5–1.5 inches long, dark green, and shiny. In late summer, tubular flowers grow in whorls from the leaf axils.
Dietary supplements
Bans Dietary supplements using germander are highly hepatotoxic (causing liver damage). Its sale was prohibited in France by the French Ministry of Health in April 1992. It causes acute hepatitis with an onset delay of 6 weeks to 6 months, and as of 1992 there has been at least one known case of fatal hepatic dysfunction (death from liver damage).Mostera-Kara, N., A. Pauwels, E. Pines, M. Biour, and V.G. Levy. 1992. Fatal Hepatitis After Herbal Tea. The Lancet. 34 (Sept. 12):674. via https://www.medherb.com/SAMPLE.HTM As of 2017 its sale has been prohibited in the USA.
History Prior to being identified as hepatotoxic, this herb was sold in European pharmacies and health specialty stores for a variety of uses, including the following:WHO. 1992. Herbal Medicines Containing Germander Withdrawn. PHA Information Exchange Service, Alert No. 27, 19 May 1992. via https://www.medherb.com/SAMPLE.HTM retrieved 17 April, 2025.
slimming diet treatment of mild diarrhea topical analgesic for oral cavity infections
Cultivation Wall germander can be grown in USDA Zones 5–10. It may be propagated by vegetative cuttings or by the division of established clumps.
Gallery
References
External links Teucrium chamaedrys, Missouri Botanical Garden Teucrium chamaedrys, Plants for a Future database Teucrium chamaedrys, University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension, Tucson Arizona USA