Syrian Ironwort Plant Care
Sideritis syriaca L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sideritis syriaca, commonly known as ironwort, is a species of perennial flowering plant native to Albania, Greece, Crete, Turkey, and Syria in the eastern Mediterranean. It grows at high elevations in the mountains.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Syrian Ironwort?
Plant Syrian Ironwort in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Syrian Ironwort Native To?
What Is the Syrian Ironwort?
Syrian Ironwort (Sideritis syriaca) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Sideritis genus. Syrian Ironwort is native to Albania, Greece, Crete, Turkey, and Syria in the eastern Mediterranean. Syrian Ironwort is also known as Mountain Tea, Shepherd's Tea, Greek Mountain Tea.
Syrian Ironwort displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Syrian Ironwort produces small yellow flowers in dense clusters.
What Light Does the Syrian Ironwort Need?
Syrian Ironwort thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Syrian Ironwort?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Syrian Ironwort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Syrian Ironwort?
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 Syrian Ironwort?
Prune Syrian Ironwort 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 Syrian Ironwort 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 Syrian Ironwort?
Syrian Ironwort 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 Syrian Ironwort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Syrian Ironwort, 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 Syrian Ironwort?
Syrian Ironwort 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
Syrian Ironwort 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.
Syrian Ironwort 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 syriaca L., family Lamiaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 574 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Syrian Ironwort, 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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