Large Spike Rock Tea Plant Care
Sideritis macrostachyos Poir.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sideritis macrostachyos is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to north and north-eastern Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Large Spike Rock Tea?
Plant Large Spike Rock Tea in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Large Spike Rock Tea Native To?
What Is the Large Spike Rock Tea?
Large Spike Rock Tea (Sideritis macrostachyos) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Sideritis genus. Large Spike Rock Tea is native to north and north-eastern Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Large Spike Rock Tea displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Large Spike Rock Tea produces small yellow flowers in dense clusters.
What Light Does the Large Spike Rock Tea Need?
Large Spike Rock Tea thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Large Spike Rock Tea?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Large Spike Rock Tea to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Large Spike Rock Tea?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a Large Spike Rock Tea?
Prune Large Spike Rock Tea while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Large Spike Rock Tea in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Large Spike Rock Tea?
Large Spike Rock Tea can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mountain tea plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Large Spike Rock Tea Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Large Spike Rock Tea, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Large Spike Rock Tea?
Large Spike Rock Tea is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Large Spike Rock Tea is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Sideritis genus — compare its care with other Sideritis species on PlantoScan.
Sideritis is part of the Lamiaceae plant family — browse all Lamiaceae genera and species.
Large Spike Rock Tea thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Sideritis Species
Other Sideritis species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Sideritis macrostachyos Poir., family Lamiaceae (first published in Encycl. , Suppl. 2: 381 (1811)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Large Spike Rock Tea, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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