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Aleutian Self Heal Prunella vulgaris subsp. lanceolata

Phonetic Spelling
proo-NELL-uh vul-GAIR-iss subspecies lan-see-oh-LAY-tah
Description

Prunella vulgaris subsp. lanceolata, or Selfheal, is a short, perennial wildflower in the mint family that can be recognized by its erect, flowering spikes and hairy bracts. It is a low growing plant produces dense clusters of flowers each with an intricate two petal arrangement, the upper petal forming a hood, and all in shades of purple and lavender. 

This very adaptive plant can be grown under most soil, light and PH conditions, but it prefers full to partial sun and moist to slightly dry soil that is rich in organic content. It can be grown in full sun but may need some shade in hot dry conditions.

The leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.  They are used in stews, soups, and salads.  Wash the leaves to remove the bitter-tasting tannin (yellowish-brown bitter-tasting organic substance) prior to eating. An olive-green dye can be extracted from the flowers and stems.   

Propagate from seed or by dividing in spring or fall.  New plants should be kept moist their first year. The plant tolerates some drought, but prolonged dry spells will cause it to drop lower leaves and turn greenish yellow. This plant is a good ground cover in sunny sites, but it can become rather weedy and aggressive.

Two varieties of this species are known, with lanceolata being taller and erect, native to North America, and with lanceolate leaves. Prunella vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is a lawn weed introduced from Eurasia.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  

Its tendency to profligate in damp, moist conditions may cause it to become a troublesome weed in turf with the same conditions.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#purple flowers#native perennial#NC native#lavender flowers#frost tolerant#groundcover#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#perennial#flowering#wildflower#weedy
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#purple flowers#native perennial#NC native#lavender flowers#frost tolerant#groundcover#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#perennial#flowering#wildflower#weedy
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Prunella
    Species:
    vulgaris subsp. lanceolata
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The plant has a long history in folk medicine as a treatment for wounds.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Asia, Japan, Korea, North and Central America
    Distribution:
    Alaska south to Guatemala.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bumblebees and butterflies. The plant is the host plant for the Clouded Sulfur butterfly.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Edibility:
    The leaves are edible.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Weed
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Each flower produces 4 tiny brown, angular, finely ridged seeds. The seeds, enclosed in a calyx, may be fling into the air when a raindrop strikes the ridged calyx tube, thus distributing the seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small bluish to lavender or whitish flowers in a cylinder-shaped head; large greenish or purple-tinged, bristly fringed bracts. Each tubular flower is about ½" long and divided into 2 lips. The upper lip is light purple and functions as a hood, while the lower lip is white and fringed.The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer and lasts about a month.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    1 to 4 inch long and 3/4 inch wide, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves and long slender stalks. There are some low teeth on the margins. The leaves have short petioles and white hairs along the central vein on their undersides.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Long slender, unbranched stalk. The erect central stem has white hairs along its four angular ridges.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Weedy