General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 1-4 feet
Plant Spread: 2-4 feet
Fruit: Edible to birds
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Bi-Color: White and pink.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Bog gardening
Uses: Erosion control
Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Other info: This plant self seeds.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Tip
Division
Stolons and runners
Other: This plant spreads like wildfire.
Pollinators: Self
Bees

Image
Common names
  • American Germander
  • Canadian Germander
  • Germander
  • Canada Germander
  • Hairy Germander
  • Wood Sage

Photo Gallery
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-07-08
close-up of lower flower spike-like cluster
Photo by wildflowers
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2019-08-03
Photo by wildflowers
Location: Clark Hill Road, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2016-07-11
Photo by Horntoad
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2019-06-09
Photo by Horntoad
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-07-09
found in an isolated and deep rural/farm ditch
Location: Clark Hill Road, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2016-07-11
Location: Clark Hill Road, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2016-07-11
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-07-08
colony in part-shade of tall trees
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-07-08
wild plant in shady area
Location: Molly Hollar Wildscape Arlinton, Texas.
Date: Spring 2010
This is a very vigorous plant, good for ground cover.
Location: Toolesboro Indian Mounds, Iowa
Date: 2011-07-03
Location: Toolesboro Indian Mounds, Iowa
Date: 7-3-11
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2014-07-04

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Jul 9, 2020 7:38 PM concerning plant:
    I just discovered this species as a colony in a park in a shady area not far from a pond and creek in southeast Pennsylvania. It has a large native range through all of the continental 48 states and southern Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is a member of the Mint Family and the leaves are aromatic but are bitter to eat. Its leaves were used for making some bitter medicinal teas, but it was found out the it contains a lot of a chemical of neoclerodane diterpenoid that can cause liver damage. I think it is a pretty woodland wild flower and I was pleasantly surprised to find it. It forms colonies by spreading by rhizomes and self-sowing, so one must be careful to use it in a more natural garden. Its 2-lipped pink to pale pink flowers, typical of mints, are not fragrant, but make good cut flowers, and they attract pollinators as: long-tongued bees, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. Prairie Moon Native Plant Nursery sells the tiny light brown rounded seed.

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