Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Webb's Germander (Teucrium webbianum)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Webb's Germander.

More about webb's germander

About Webb's Germander

Teucrium webbianum · also called Webb's Germander · flowering

Teucrium webbianum is a small, shrubby germander from the Iberian Peninsula and closely allied to other compact Mediterranean species in the genus. It forms a low, bushy mound of aromatic, grey-green foliage with small, two-lipped flowers typical of germanders, suited to rock gardens, raised beds, and dry Mediterranean-style planting schemes. Full sun and excellent drainage are the primary requirements for success. The plant is mildly toxic if ingested, in line with the documented hepatotoxic chemistry of the Teucrium genus.

Cold limit: USDA 7-10 · RHS H4 (-10 to 30°C)

Watch for — Root rot in poorly drained soils: Winter waterlogging is the principal threat; plant in raised beds or add substantial grit to the planting site, and avoid watering after late autumn.

What webb's germander's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — webb's germander is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 7-10, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H4 means: Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world. On the US scale that maps to USDA 7-10 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Webb's Germander is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for webb's germander as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −10 to −5 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can webb's germander go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 7-10 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when webb's germander can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H4 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline webb's germander

Webb's Germander is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

At the cold edge of its range, mulch the root zone in late autumn to buffer the deepest freezes.
Protect container specimens — pots freeze through far faster than open ground, costing roughly a zone of hardiness.
Shelter new growth from late spring frosts with fleece if a hard night is forecast.

Webb's Germander hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is webb's germander cold hardy?

Yes — webb's germander is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H4 and USDA 7-10, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Webb's Germander is hardy across USDA 7-10; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature webb's germander can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −10 to −5 °C. Webb's Germander is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is webb's germander?

Webb's Germander is rated USDA 7-10 and RHS H4 — Hardy in an average winter across much of the temperate world.

Can webb's germander survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 7-10 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

How do I protect webb's germander from frost?

At the cold edge of its range, mulch the root zone in late autumn to buffer the deepest freezes. Protect container specimens — pots freeze through far faster than open ground, costing roughly a zone of hardiness. Shelter new growth from late spring frosts with fleece if a hard night is forecast.