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Native Plant Society of Texas

Coast Germander

Teucrium cubense

Other common name(s):

Small Coastal Germander

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1.5
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Dry, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Often grows adjacent to prickly pear. Native habitat: along arroyos, washes or stream banks.

Description

Blooms March-October. Delicate, upright, herbaceous plant, with hairy lobed leaves. Has clusters of small white blossoms in leaf axils, with broad lower lobe and smaller lateral lobes, often with purple lines or spots. The fruit is a nutlet.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment can be sown directly in the soil or in containers. The ideal time for sowing seeds is in the spring when the temperature is warm and the daylight hours are long. The seeds should be sown at a depth of approximately 2-3 mm in well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0. It is important to keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds germinate, which typically takes 2-3 weeks. The seeds can be obtained from mature plants. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/teucrium-cubense-jacq/511913/1#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20easiest%20methods,typically%20takes%202%2D3%20weeks.
Stem Cutting The cuttings should be approximately 10-15 cm long and should include 3-4 leaf nodes. Remove the leaves from the bottom 2-3 nodes and dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone. The cuttings should then be placed in a well-draining growing medium such as perlite or sand and kept in a warm, bright location. Keep the cuttings consistently moist, and roots should start to develop in 4-6 weeks. The cuttings should be taken from mature plants during the growing season, in the morning when the plant is hydrated. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/teucrium-cubense-jacq/511913/1#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20easiest%20methods,typically%20takes%202%2D3%20weeks. 2) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-teucrium-heterophyllum/
Bud Division Divide the clump into small sections, ensuring that each section has a healthy root system and sufficient stem and leaves. The divided sections should be immediately replanted in well-draining soil and kept consistently moist until new growth appears, This method is best done in the spring when the plant is actively growing. 1) https://www.botanikks.com/plants/teucrium-cubense-jacq/511913/1#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20easiest%20methods,typically%20takes%202-3%20weeks. 2) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-teucrium-heterophyllum/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason