Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Aroanian Germander bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Aroanian germander, Mount Aroania germander (Teucrium aroanium).

More about aroanian germander

About Aroanian Germander

Teucrium aroanium · also called Aroanian germander, Mount Aroania germander · flowering

Teucrium aroanium is a compact, mat-forming sub-shrub endemic to the high mountain zones of the Peloponnese in Greece, particularly on the limestone peaks of Mount Aroania (Chelmos). It forms low, spreading cushions of small, grey-green to silver leaves studded with small pink to purple flowers in summer, making it an ideal alpine or rock-garden subject. The critical care point is excellent drainage and grit, mirroring its high-altitude scree habitat; it abhors winter wet far more than frost. As with other Teucrium species, treat as mildly toxic to pets.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons aroanian germander isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming aroanian germander traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding aroanian germander a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get aroanian germander to flower

Maximise sun. Give aroanian germander the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for aroanian germander and get the feeding right with the aroanian germander fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Aroanian Germander flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full aroanian germander care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Aroanian Germander blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my aroanian germander flower?

Aroanian Germander blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make aroanian germander bloom?

Give aroanian germander the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does aroanian germander normally bloom?