Selfheal Prunella vulgaris subsp. lanceolata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- proo-NELL-uh vul-GAIR-iss subspecies lan-see-oh-LAY-tah
- Description
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Prunella vulgaris subsp. lanceolata is a perennial wildflower that can be recognized by its erect, flowering spikes and hairy bracts.
Its native habit includes moist fields, roadsides, pastures, and along woodlands. This very adaptive plant can be grown under most soil, light and PH conditions. 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.
Propagate from seed or by dividing in spring or fall. New plants should be kept moist their first year.
An olive-green dye can be extracted from the flowers and stems.
It is the host plant for the Clouded Sulphur butterfly.
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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunella
- Species:
- vulgaris subsp. lanceolata
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Hemisphere
- Distribution:
- AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, W, WV, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bumblebees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Edibility:
- The leaves are edible.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
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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
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Seed can be used for propagation.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Small bluish to lavender or whitish flowers in a cylinder-shaped head; large greenish or purple-tinged, bristly fringed bracts
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1 to 4 in. egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves and long slender stalks. There are some low teeth on the margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Long slender, unbranched stalk.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
