ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

The Eshtaol Nursery and the Jerusalem Botanical Garden successfully propagated Teucrium Procerum, a critically endangered perennial herb, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) announced.

A member of the mint family, the plant has a stem that can reach 70 centimeters in height, dissected leaves, and blue-purple flowers with a single-lipped corolla.

The endangered herb is mostly found in the Sharon and Menashe heights, but it exists in small, isolated spots across the country, as its population has declined since the mid-20th century. The plant requires heavy, clay-rich soils.

Much of the population’s decline is associated with habitat loss, largely due to agricultural development and construction in the open areas of the Sharon region.

Restoring endangered native plant species

In partnership with Jerusalem University Botanical Garden and KKL-JNF, collected seeds from wild populations and transferred them to Eshtaol Nursery for treatment. After the seeds were cleaned, they were sown in the fall of 2024. 

Teucrium Procerum
Teucrium Procerum (credit: KKL-JNF)

Now, a year later, the nursery has confirmed the seedlings have successfully germinated and are thriving as the nursery manufactures its natural habitat.

“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," said Rotem Attias, Manager of the Eshtaol Nursery.

He added, “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.”

After the project’s success, KKL-JNF shared that it was viewing the efforts as a model for future initiatives to help protect Israel’s biodiversity by restoring endangered native species.

“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," said Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, Scientific Director at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden.