Prunella vulgaris
self-heal
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This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
- Position: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Moderately fertile, reliably moist soil
- Rate of growth: Average
- Flower period: June to September
- Hardiness: Fully hardy
This is a common native wildflower which has long been grown as a herb for medicinal uses, where the leaves reputedly were applied to wounds to promote healing, hence the common name 'self-heal'. A creeping perennial with short straight stemmed spikes of violet/blue flowers, hooded and lipped, flowering throughout the summer into the autumn. As can be the case with wildflowers, the flower colour can be variable, and although this is rare, sometimes the flowers can be pink or white.
Frequently found in meadows, woodland clearings and pastures it is easy to grow, but it does need a moist soil. Freely self- seeds so deadhead when flowers fade to prevent spreading.
In early to mid-spring, shallow sow into a tray filled with good seed compost and keep in an unheated greenhouse or coldframe. Seedlings can take up to 2 months to appear, but as they grow, pot them up individually before growing them on, hardening off and planting out. Alternatively, in late spring or early summer, sow directly into a well-prepared seedbed and thin to 15cm intervals.