Water Germander is a sprawling perennial. The flowers are a pale purple and grow in whorls up leafy stems. The leaves are oval, stalkless and slightly toothed. The stems and leaves are soft and hairy.
The plant grows by fresh water at lakesides. It is very rare, but can be found along the banks of the River Shannon, mainly beside Lough Ree and Lough Derg, and in turloughs in Clare and Tipperary. It is pollinated by bees.
Flowering time is in July and August.
Water Germander is rare in Britain. It is more widespread in Europe south of Scandinavia.