Leonurus spp.

motherwort

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Leonurus spp. is a genus of about 25 erect herbs in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native across Europe and Asia and naturalized widely in North America and elsewhere. Plants are annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial, with square stems 0.6-2 m (2-6.5 ft) tall and deeply palmately lobed lower leaves that become narrower up the stem. Small two-lipped flowers, pink, mauve, or white and often hairy on the upper lip, are clustered in dense whorls in the leaf axils, subtended by stiff, spine-tipped calyx teeth that persist after the flowers fade. L. cardiaca, motherwort, and L. japonicus, Chinese motherwort, have long histories of use in herbal medicine. The genus grows in waste ground, roadsides, hedgerows, and open woodland, often on disturbed or nutrient-rich soils. Plants flower in summer and self-seed freely, and several species behave as weeds outside their native range. The spiny calyces can catch on skin and clothing during late-season handling. Foliage has the aromatic, slightly bitter scent typical of the mint family.

Native Range

Leonurus spp. is native to Europe and temperate Asia, with the greatest diversity in China and central Asia. Several species, including L. cardiaca, have naturalized across North America, growing on roadsides, waste ground, and pasture margins.

Suggested Uses

Grown in herb gardens, wildlife plantings, and informal borders, and cultivated as a medicinal herb. The whorled flowers attract bees, and plants are spaced 30-45 cm (12-18 in) apart where allowed to self-seed.

How to Identify

Recognized by square stems, palmately lobed lower leaves, and dense whorls of small pink to white two-lipped flowers in the upper leaf axils. The calyx teeth are stiff and spine-tipped, persisting as prickly clusters after flowering. The crushed foliage has a bitter, minty scent.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 6'7"

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs through summer, roughly June to September, with whorls opening in succession up the stem. The persistent spiny calyces remain after the flowers drop, holding the seed into autumn. Plants often produce abundant self-sown seedlings.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink, mauve, or white

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade and tolerate a wide range of soils, including poor and dry ground, provided drainage is reasonable. Established plants are drought tolerant and need little care, and the perennial species spread by both seed and creeping roots. Self-seeding can be heavy, so removing spent flower heads before seed ripens limits spread. Most species are cold hardy across temperate zones. Rich, moist soils produce taller, softer growth that may need support.

Pruning

Cutting plants back after flowering reduces self-seeding and can prompt a flush of fresh foliage. Spent stems are removed at the base in autumn or late winter. The stiff spiny calyces can scratch bare skin during late-season cutting.