Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Trailing Germander
Trailing Germander is a low, dense, spreading germander with small, leathery, dark green leaves, about a foot tall and 1 to 3 feet wide. In spring and summer it sends up short spikes of lavender flowers that bees visit, and the flowers have a light honey scent. It stays evergreen, grows in full sun or part shade and needs moderate water once rooted. Use it for edging, as a small-scale groundcover or in a patio pot.
Best for: low edging along beds and paths, small groundcover areas, patio pots, and spots with morning sun or part shade.
It stays about a foot tall with small, leathery dark green leaves. Planted 2 to 3 feet apart, it makes a neat low edge along beds and paths.
It grows in full sun to part shade, so it fits beds that are shaded for part of the day. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it well.
Its small size suits patio containers, where it stays a tidy foot tall. Lavender flower spikes in spring and summer draw bees, so set the pot where you can enjoy the visitors.
Hot reflected afternoon sun is too much for it, so keep it away from west walls and big windows. Plant it where the soil drains well, since soggy soil rots the roots.
- Edging row2 ft apart
- Groundcover patch2-3 ft apart
Water a new plant every 2 to 4 days for the first few weeks, then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted, water it from spring to fall and give little or none in winter.
Shear it lightly in late winter to keep it compact and dense.
Full sun or part shade suits it. Keep it away from hot reflected afternoon sun off walls and big windows.
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.
How big does Trailing Germander get?
It grows up to about a foot tall and 1 to 3 feet wide, spreading into a low, dense mound. Plan for that width when you space it.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart center to center, or about 2 feet apart for a tight edging row. The Spacing tab shows both.
Does it grow in shade?
Yes. It grows in full sun to part shade, so it fits beds that get shade for part of the day.
Can it take reflected heat?
No. Reflected afternoon summer sun is too much for it, so plant it away from hot west walls and big windows.
When does it bloom?
It blooms in spring and summer, with short spikes of lavender flowers. Bees visit them, so leave the flowers on if you want to feed them.
Do the flowers smell?
Yes. The flowers have a light, honey-like scent, so plant it where you walk by.
How often should I water it?
Once rooted, water it from spring to fall, and give it little or no water in winter.
When should I trim it?
Lightly shear or cut it back once a year in late winter to keep it compact and dense.
What soil does it need?
Plant it in soil that drains well. Alkaline desert soil is fine, so there is no need to add amendments.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated hardy to about -10°F, so a Valley winter does not hurt it and it needs no frost cover.
Is trailing germander evergreen?
Yes. It keeps its small green leaves all year, so the edging stays full in winter.
Trailing Germander for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Trailing Germander is the low, spreading form of wall germander, a Mediterranean herb. It makes a dense, dark green mat with lavender flowers in spring and summer. This page covers its size, spacing, light, watering and yearly trim for a Valley yard.
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 Trailing Germander?
Trailing Germander is the low, spreading form of wall germander from the Mediterranean. It keeps its small, leathery dark green leaves all year and sends up lavender flower spikes.
How big does Trailing Germander get?
It grows up to about a foot tall and 1 to 3 feet wide. It forms a dense, low mound that fills in between plants.
How far apart to plant Trailing Germander
Plant it about 24 to 36 inches apart center to center. That spacing fills in as a low edging or small groundcover.
Where to plant Trailing Germander in the Valley
Give it full sun to part shade, but keep it out of hot reflected afternoon sun off west walls and windows. Plant it in soil that drains well.
How to trim Trailing Germander
Lightly shear or cut it back once a year in late winter. This keeps the plant compact, tidy and dense.
Watering Trailing Germander
Once rooted, water it from spring to fall and little or none in winter. Soil that drains well matters more than anything else.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.