Teucrium Procerum, a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, features upright stems reaching up to 70 centimeters, dissected leaves, and striking blue-purple flowers with a single-lipped corolla. It thrives in heavy, clay-rich soils and historically occurred in limited areas across the northeastern Middle East. In Israel, the plant has disappeared from most of its original habitats, largely due to agricultural development and construction in the open areas of the Sharon region.
As part of ongoing conservation efforts, the Jerusalem University Botanical Garden and KKL-JNF collected seeds from wild populations and transferred them to Eshtaol Nursery for treatment. The seeds underwent cleaning, pre-treatment, and were sown in the fall of 2024. One year later, the nursery reports remarkable success in germination and seedling growth. Young plants are thriving in conditions similar to their natural habitats, including heavy, moist soils in the open areas of the Sharon and Menashe Heights.
According to Rotem Attias, Manager of Eshtaol Nursery at KKL-JNF, “This is an important breakthrough for the conservation of local flora. We have successfully cultivated dozens of Teucrium Procerum seedlings under controlled conditions, which enables us to reintroduce some into the wild and safeguard local biodiversity.” He adds, “Our goal is not only to preserve the plant in the nursery but also to establish stable populations in nature that can reproduce naturally in the historic sites from which it had vanished.”
The success of the project is considered a significant step in preserving rare plants in Israel. KKL-JNF views this initiative as a model for restoring other endangered species, recognizing that protecting biodiversity requires a combination of scientific knowledge, advanced infrastructure, and patient fieldwork.
Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Scientific Director at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, states, “We learned to propagate Teucrium Procerum from both seeds and cuttings. The plants we planted throughout the garden produced spectacular blooms in May. This species is also among the 100 water-efficient plants we recommend for cultivation.”