Teucrium hircanicum

‘Purple Tails’

PLUM WOOD SAGE

Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’
PLUM WOOD SAGE

Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’ is a sturdy stalwart for all gardeners with less than ideal conditions.
Though it is so attractive and long blooming you would also include it for beauty alone.

Elegant, fragrant & aromatic 

Because ‘Purple Tails’ bears aromatic, elegant red-purple spires of flowers for months through summer.

Cut flowers for floristry & foliage for moth proofing

The flower spires are fragrant and make excellent cut flowers either fresh or dried.
While the softly furry foliage is also pleasantly aromatic with a gentle sage-green colouring.
And the foliage also has insect repelling qualities that make it very useful for scented pot-pourri and bug repelling sachets for drawers and cupboards.

Tough as nails

Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’ is tough and hardy in hot and dry conditions.
And is worth trying in the dry conditions often found close to trees and shrubs, where very few other plants will thrive.
Because it is native to areas in Iran with hot, dry summers and cold winters.
And it can be found in the wild growing both out in full sun on rocky hillsides, as well as amongst woodland.
Hence it grows happily in Full Sun and equally well in Shade, and has the common name of Wood Sage.

Easy to grow in the garden

It is also ruggedly frost hardy down to at least -15C. because of it’s native habitat.
And is not at all fussy about soil types, from sandy, gravel, rocky and very well drained, all the way to damp composted soil as long as it is not permanently waterlogged.
However Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’ does respond well to an application of lime each year, unless your soil is already lime based.

Quick & easy from seed and low maintenance

Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’ is very satisfying to raise from seed.
As it is quick and easy to germinate, and grows quickly so you soon have plants ready for garden planting or to share with friends. If the seeds are sown early you can have flowers within a few months.

Rounded, evergreen perennial like a small shrub.
Approx. 75-90cm. High in summer flower spires x  60-75cm. Wide of softly furry sage green aromatic foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow all year in punnets indoors / scatter in the garden in spring or autumn.

INDOORS: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat gently to the surface to ensure good contact.
Now barely cover the seed with sieved mix / vermiculite / or fine sandy grit.
Because these seeds need light to germinate, so do not bury them.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface from below.

Then place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in direct sun).
You can use a heat mat if you have one, or a warm window sill (out of the sun).

Temperatures of 15-20C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Continue to keep moist by misting from a spray water bottle as required.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid also helps top conserve moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 7-14 days.

SEED COUNT: 150 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

GROWING: Teucrium hircanicum ‘Purple Tails’

– Height with flowers: 75-90cm. approx.
– Width: 60-75cm. approx.
– Position: Full Sun as well as Partial Shade
– Soil: Tolerant of a range of soils types though does appreciate lime.

– Fragrance: Scented flowers and aromatic foliage.
– Frost: Hardy
– Growth: Hardy, evergreen perennial.
– Bees & birds: Butterflies, bees and also other beneficial pollinators are blissfully attracted to the spires of nectar rich flowers. And really appreciate the long blooming abundance.

– Care: Shear back once or twice a year after flowering to promote new side branching and further flowers.
– Deer & Rabbit resistant: Rabbits and deer do not find Teucrium tasty, and it is also untroubled by most other pests and diseases. Teucrium hircanicum really is a low care sturdy stalwart.

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