Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mediterranean Carpet
Mediterranean Carpet is a low, mounding groundcover with silvery grey-green leaves, about 6 to 12 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. From early spring into fall it is covered in clusters of tiny purple flowers with a honey scent, and bees come to them. It takes full sun and drought, stays evergreen and needs little care. Use it on banks and slopes, in front of boulders or spilling from a container.
Best for: low groundcover on banks and slopes, fronts of beds and boulders, containers, and bee-friendly yards on little water.
It grows about 6 to 12 inches tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet, covering banks and slopes with silvery grey-green leaves all year.
Its low mounds sit well in front of boulders and larger desert plants. Clusters of tiny purple, honey-scented flowers cover it from early spring into fall, and bees come to them.
It grows well in containers as well as in the ground, spilling softly over the edge. Use a pot and soil that drain freely, and let the soil dry out between waterings.
It needs soil that drains well and does best in poor sandy or rocky ground. Soil that stays wet, or rich amended soil, does not suit it, so skip the compost when you plant.
- Tight groundcover6 in apart, center to center
- Looser groundcover12 in apart, center to center
For the first two weeks, water a new plant every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted, water is low to moderate. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
It rarely needs any shaping at all. Give it a light trim in early spring, or trim off spent flowers to keep it tidy.
It grows in full sun and also handles part shade.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is Mediterranean Carpet the same as Teucrium majoricum?
Yes. It is usually sold as Teucrium majoricum, but its correct name is Teucrium cossonii. It is also called gray creeping germander.
How big does Mediterranean Carpet get?
It grows about 6 to 12 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, forming low mounds. Use it at the front of a bed or on a bank where it can spread.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from early spring into fall, with a short break in the coldest weather. The tiny purple flowers come in clusters, and a light trim of spent flowers keeps it tidy.
Do the flowers smell?
Yes. The flowers have a sweet, honey-like scent, and the leaves are aromatic too.
Does it attract bees?
Yes. Bees visit the flowers through the long bloom season, so it is a good fit for a pollinator bed.
What soil does it need?
It needs soil that drains well. Poor sandy or rocky desert soil is fine, so plant it straight into native ground without amending.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated hardy to about -10°F, and it also handles desert heat and full sun. It needs no frost cover in the Valley.
How often should I water it?
Once rooted, let the soil dry out between waterings. It is drought tolerant and needs only low to moderate water, so do not keep it wet.
Does it need pruning?
It rarely needs any pruning at all. Give it a light trim in early spring, or trim off spent flowers, to keep it tidy.
Can it take some shade?
Yes. It does best in full sun but also grows in part shade, so it can go in a spot that gets some afternoon shade.
Mediterranean Carpet for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mediterranean Carpet is a germander from the Balearic Islands, usually sold as Teucrium majoricum and correctly named Teucrium cossonii. It forms a low silvery mat, blooms purple from spring into fall and takes sun, heat and drought. This page covers its size, spacing, bloom, watering and care.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
What is Mediterranean Carpet?
Mediterranean Carpet is a low germander from the Balearic Islands. It is sold as Teucrium majoricum, and its correct name is Teucrium cossonii. It forms silvery grey-green mounds covered in purple flowers.
How big does Mediterranean Carpet get in Arizona?
It grows about 6 to 12 inches tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet. It stays low enough for the front of a bed or a bank.
Does Mediterranean Carpet attract bees?
Yes. From early spring into fall it is covered in small purple flowers with a honey scent, and bees come to them.
When does Mediterranean Carpet bloom?
It blooms from early spring into fall with clusters of tiny purple flowers. The flowers smell of honey, and bees visit them.
Is Mediterranean Carpet good for slopes?
Yes. It is used on banks and slopes as a low evergreen cover. It needs soil that drains well.
How often to water Mediterranean Carpet
Once it is rooted, let the soil dry out between waterings. It is drought tolerant and needs low to moderate water. Soil that drains well matters most.
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