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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Erect
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Blue; Green; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
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.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Long slender, unbranched stalk. The erect central stem has white hairs along its four angular ridges.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
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.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
The leaves are edible.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant has a long history in folk medicine as a treatment for wounds.