Description and images of Teucrium bicolor (Oreganillo), a native Chilean plant, provided by the supplier of native exotic Chilean seeds, Chileflora.com

INTRODUCTION

Image of Teucrium bicolor (Oreganillo)

Image of Teucrium bicolor

V Region, Cuesta La Dormida, Chile
Altitude: 700 m. 10 08, 2006

DESCRIPTION

Plant type: Shrub

Flower: Red, without information on the number of petals
Red, 3 petals
White, without information on the number of petals
White, 3 petals

Height: 1.5 m.

Image of Teucrium bicolor (Oreganillo)

Image of Teucrium bicolor

V Region, Cuesta La Dormida, Chile
Altitude: 700 m. 10 08, 2006

HABITAT

In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions:

Habitat according to altitude:

Medium altitude up to the timber line
Low altitude, interior valleys
Coastal mountains, 500 - 2000 m.

Watering conditions:

Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall. Short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month).
Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3 - 5 months. Precipitations of 400 - 800 mm. are concentrated in winter.
Dry, arid areas, with long drought periods of 6 - 10 months. Precipitations of 100 mm - 300 mm. are concentrated in winter.

Light conditions:

Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north.
Some shadow. Some protection against direct sunlight, some shadow from vegetation, filtering about 20 - 40 % of light.

Image of Teucrium bicolor (Oreganillo)

Image of Teucrium bicolor

V Region, Cuesta La Dormida, Chile
Altitude: 700 m. 10 08, 2006

USES

Good ornamental value (A)

Image of Teucrium bicolor (Oreganillo)

Image of Teucrium bicolor

V Region, Cuesta La Dormida, Chile
Altitude: 700 m. 10 08, 2006

GROWING TIPS

This species has the following hardiness:

USDA Hardiness Zone 9. The plant does not tolerate snow, but can tolerate occasional freezing spells of about - 5° C (the typical morning frost of central Chile).