White Horehound Marrubium vulgare
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mar-ROO-bee-um vul-GAR-ay
- Description
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White Horehound is a flowering, perennial, deciduous herb or shrub in the mint family that is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. It has naturalized in much of Canada, North and South America. It spreads slowly and at maturity (in 2 to 5 years), it can reach a height of 2 feet with an equal width. The bloom season is long with flowers appearing from June to November. If the plant is cut back after flowering it will normally produce a second crop of leaves. The fresh leaves have a musky smell that fades once the plant is dried.
White Horehound is easy to grow and prefers full sun in sandy, dry soil with an acidic to neutral pH. Although it can tolerate moist or poor soil. It can be weedy and is usually found in disturbed and overgrazed areas. Livestock tend to ignore it and eat other plants around it, which causes the spread of the weed.
White Horehound has long been used as a folk medicine and the leaves are used to produce a number of drinks, from cold remedies to ale. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and can be used fresh or dried. White horehound is also a good companion plant for growing near tomatoes.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. Keep in mind that it is in the mint family and can spread aggressively.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Marrubium
- Species:
- vulgare
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It has been used in herbal medicine since the 1st century and is still used today.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Northern Africa, Southwestern and Central Asia
- Distribution:
- Canada, United States, Central and South America.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and other wildlife.
- Edibility:
- Teas and beer, cough remedy, and flavoring in hard candies and crafts are produced from the leaves.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds ripen from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Clusters of small white flowers in dense whorls around the upper stem in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 2 inch long, rounded, crinkled gray green leaves with scalloped margins and covered in downy hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Upright, square, woolly white stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Weedy
