The rose-coloured, labiate flowers, which bloom in June and July, are in three to six flowered whorls, in the axils of leafy bracts, and in leafy, terminal spikes. The whole plant is almost roughly hairy. The fresh leaves are bitter and pungent to the taste and when rubbed, emit a strong odour somewhat resembling garlic. Plant about a foot apart each way. The whole herb, collected in July and dried in the same manner as Wood Sage.
Germander acts as a slight aperient, as well as a tonic.
The reputation of Germander as a specific for gout is of very old date, the Emperor Charles V having been cured by a decoction of this herb taken for sixty days in succession. It has been employed in various forms and combinations, of which the once celebrated Portland Powder is one of the chief instances. It was also used as a tonic in intermittent fevers, and is recommended for uterine obstructions. The expressed juice of the leaves, with the addition of white wine, is held to be good in obstruction of the viscera. Possessing qualities nearly allied to those of Horehound, a decoction of the green herb, taken with honey, has been found useful in asthmatic affections and coughs, being recommended for this purpose by Dioscorides.