Chahorra (Sideritis dendro-chahorra)
Sideritis dendro-chahorra Bolle · Family: Lamiaceae
Common on dry sunny cliffs and slopes, 150–900 m, in tall spurge scrub and thermophilous woodland.
Where it grows on Tenerife
Grows in: South coast · North coast · South, 300–1000 m · North, 300–1000 m
Zones are derived approximately from the Cabildo belts.
Description
A much-branched shrubby subshrub. Leaves narrowly ovate-lanceolate, densely tomentose, with a yellowish or creamy-white indumentum on the underside and greenish-yellow tones on the upper side. Inflorescences much branched, with yellow flowers. Flowers in spring.
Propagation and growing
This shrub fruits in summer and produces seeds that germinate fairly easily. The plants are vigorous and can be grown in containers without much difficulty. They are undemanding as to soil and moisture, and growth is slow at first. It is not usually available in native-plant nurseries, and growing must be ordered at least a year in advance.
Garden use
This elongated shrubby subshrub, up to 80 cm tall, has some ornamental value for its candelabra-like habit, its delicate velvety leaves and its beautiful spring inflorescences. It is endemic to Tenerife and common on the Anaga peninsula, between 150 and 900 m above sea level. It is suitable for planting in mid-altitude areas, taking care not to plant it next to "Sideritis macrostachys" Poir.
Notes
Hybridises with "Sideritis macrostachys" Poir.
Protection status
Not listed.
Potential vegetation
Periploco-Euphorbietum canariensis; Junipero-Oleetum cerasiformis; Visneo-Arbutetum canariensis.
Source: Cabildo de Tenerife, “Guía de especies vegetales”, CC BY. Translated from Spanish by us.
Bioclimatic belts
Warm coastal belt
- Inframediterranean, semi-arid (lower level)
- Inframediterranean, semi-arid (upper level)
- Inframediterranean, dry, without trade-wind fog
- Inframediterranean, dry, with trade-wind fog
Warm mid-slope belt
- Thermomediterranean, semi-arid (lower level)
- Thermomediterranean, semi-arid (upper level), without trade-wind fog
- Thermomediterranean, semi-arid (upper level), with trade-wind fog
- Thermomediterranean, dry, with trade-wind fog
- Thermomediterranean, dry (lower level), without trade-wind fog
Districts
Anaga · Metropolitan area (Santa Cruz and La Laguna) · Acentejo