How to Grow Prunella Plants

Prunella Growing and Care Guide

• Common Names: Self heal, Heal-all, All-heal.
• Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
• Height: 6 to 12 inches (30 cm).
• Native: North and Central America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
• Growing Region: Zones 6 to 9.
• Flowers: Spring through to autumn.
• Flower Details: Blue, purple; can be pink or white. Clustered. Tiny. Hooded.
• Fruit: Small red berries. Summer through autumn.
• Foliage: Evergreen. Mat forming. Mint-like. Petiolate. Narrow ovate. Stiff stem.
• Sow Outside: Cover seed. Start of spring - before the last frost.
• Sow Inside: Germination time: one to two months. Temperature: 55 to 65°F (13—18°C). About 2 months in advance. Transplant outdoors in spring. Spacing 12 to 18 inches (30—45 cm).
• Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade in hotter areas. Soil pH 6 to 7.5. Moist soil. Tolerates dry soil in cooler regions. Regular watering during prolonged dry spells in warmer areas. Cut back to the ground once flowering has completed. Propagate: by dividing in the spring autumn; self-seeds freely and may become invasive.
• Family: Lamiaceae.
• Closely Related Species: Mints and Sages.
• Miscellaneous: Many species are lawn-weeds and can be difficult to control as they are resistant to many lawn weed killers; the plant is useful the rock garden, in borders, and is often grown for its herbal properties. Has long been used in Europe as a ‘treat all’ plant, hence its name; where it was used in the treatment of wounds, burns, heart conditions and even as an anti-cancer agents. In traditional Chinese medication it is used in an herbal drink to treat liver complaints. Self heal was traditionally used by indigenous North Americans to treat boils, cuts and inflammations.