Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Cosson's germander, Balearic germander (Teucrium cossonii).

More about cosson's germander

About Cosson's Germander

Teucrium cossonii · also called Cosson's germander, Balearic germander · flowering

Teucrium cossonii is a low-growing, prostrate sub-shrub endemic to the Balearic Islands (Majorca and Ibiza), where it scrambles over sun-baked limestone rocks and coastal scrub. It is grown for its dense silver-grey felted foliage and bright cerise to pink-purple flowers produced over a long summer season. The most important care consideration is outstanding drainage and full sun — waterlogged roots in winter cause rapid death, making it best suited to a dry wall top, raised scree bed, or alpine house in wetter climates. Treat as mildly toxic to pets, consistent with the Teucrium genus.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons cosson's germander isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming cosson's 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 cosson's 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 cosson's germander to flower

Maximise sun. Give cosson's 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 cosson's germander and get the feeding right with the cosson's 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

Cosson's 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 cosson's germander care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Cosson's Germander blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my cosson's germander flower?

Cosson's 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 cosson's germander bloom?

Give cosson's 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 cosson's germander normally bloom?