Mediterranean carpet is an aromatic, evergreen ground cover that’s carpeted with lavender flowers from spring through fall. It makes an excellent alternative to the ubiquitous ground cover lantana, which has some drawbacks. Here’s how to grow and care for this Mediterranean native.
Mediterranean carpet (Teucrium majoricum ‘Mediterranean Carpet’) is an extremely attractive, low-maintenance ground cover.
Its lush, aromatic, silver-gray foliage forms symmetric mounds. Clusters of small tubular lavender flowers bloom so densely, they nearly obscure the foliage.
Mediterranean carpet is native to the Mediterranean, not the desert southwest, but is unfazed by our harshest conditions — full sun, poor soil, and drought.
It looks just about perfect all year. Mine has stayed beautifully symmetric with no pruning. It has come through two winters with no cold damage. It looks so good, my husband teasingly asks, “Are you sure that’s real?“
Why I Like This Plant
- Evergreen gray leaves
- Symmetric mounding form
- Profusion of lavender flowers
- Extremely cold-tolerant and low-maintenance
- Non-toxic, no thorns, no litter
- Attracts bees and butterflies
Mediterranean Carpet: Lantana Alternative
If you’d like a change of pace from lantana, there are many reasons to consider growing Mediterranean carpet instead. Lantanas are ubiquitous (some say “overused“) in desert landscaping and are not without their problems.
As you can see in this image below, it looks a lot like trailing lantana, which is also low-growing and covered with lavender flowers.
Lantana can cause contact dermatitis and are toxic. Mediterranean carpet is not irritating and non-toxic.
Some people dislike the smell of lantana. The aroma of Mediterranean carpet is pleasant, reminiscent of mint, honey, or pineapple.
Since lantana dies back from cold, it’s typically not all that attractive during the winter. Mediterranean carpet looks as good in the winter as it does in the summer and never needs severe pruning of cold damage.
Mediterranean carpet is not aggressive or invasive. I was shocked to learn that lantana is on the list of the world’s 100 worst invasive species and is considered an invasive species in some states in California, Texas, and Florida.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding Mediterranean carpet to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Mediterranean carpet should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 – 10. Plants tolerate desert heat. During winter, they stay evergreen and are cold-hardy down to -10℉.
Sun Exposure
Mediterranean carpet thrives in full sun. It tolerates part shade, but should have at least 6 hours of sun per day to look its best.
Size and Growth Rate
Mediterranean carpet is a moderately fast-growing ground cover that stays between 6 inches and 1 foot tall and spreads to around 3 feet wide.
It blooms profusely in the spring. Plants are so carpeted with flowers, you can barely see the foliage! They continue to bloom sporadically summer through the fall.
Soil
Mediterranean carpet prefers poor sandy or rocky soil. But it grows well in any desert soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Mediterranean carpet’s low, sprawling habit makes it a good choice for planting on slopes or in front of boulders or to complement larger desert plants.
Plants are rather fleshy and don’t hold up to foot traffic.
Mediterranean Carpet:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Mediterranean carpet |
| Scientific Name | Teucrium majoricum ‘Mediterranean Carpet’ |
| Origin | Mediterranean |
| Plant Type | Evergreen ground cover |
| USDA Zones | Zones 5 – 10 |
| Cold Hardiness | To -10℉ |
| Flower Color | Lavender |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 6-12″ tall x 3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, no litter |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees, butterflies Deer resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any ground cover is to dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant Mediterranean carpet is in the fall. This gives your plant three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Mediterranean Carpet
Whether you’ve recently planted a Mediterranean carpet or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
Once you’ve got your Mediterranean carpet in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. The University of Arizona recommends watering newly planted ground covers every 2 to 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks. After that, water once a week for the next two weeks, and then every 10 to 14 days after that.
How much water you should give your plant with each watering depends on the diameter of your plant and will change as it grows. You can use this chart as a guide.
| 1 foot diameter | .5 gallons |
| 2 feet diameter | 2 gallons |
| 3 feet diameter | 3.5 gallons |
Pro Tip!
Water from below.
Showering the plant with a hose will flatten it down,
temporarily disrupting its perfect form.
Should You Fertilize?
Mediterranean carpet naturally thrives in poor soil and does not need to be fertilized.
How to Prune
Mediterranean carpet naturally forms a symmetric mound, so rarely needs pruning to shape. It’s oblivious to cold and doesn’t need spring pruning to remove frost damage.
After a major bloom, I like to lightly trim the spent flowers, since the dried flowers tend to hang around. This makes the plant look tidy and stimulates new growth.
Plant Lover Facts
Mediterranean carpet (Teucrium majoricum ‘Mediterranean Carpet’) also goes by the name Mediterranean carpet germander or gray creeping germander. The genus Teucrium spans the globe and belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Plants in this genus are commonly known as germanders.
The naming of this plant is a hot mess, and I’ve seen many alternative scientific names incorrectly applied. While it’s usually sold as Teucrium majoricum ‘Mediterranean Carpet’ this is not a scientifically valid name. My go-to source for reliable taxonomy information, Kew Gardens, lists the correct name as Teucrium cossonii D.Wood.
This plant hales from the Balearic Islands off the eastern coast of Spain, and had an extremely small natural distribution.
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
