Lycopus americanus
American bugleweed
Overview
Lycopus americanus is an upright herbaceous perennial of wet ground, reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall and spreading by slender rhizomes to form colonies 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) wide. The square green stems are unbranched or branch near the top. Lower leaves are lance-shaped and deeply pinnately cut or coarsely toothed, 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) long, while upper leaves are smaller and less divided. Tiny white flowers, each about 0.1 inch (3 mm) long with four short lobes, gather in dense whorled clusters tucked in the leaf axils from July to September. Unlike many mints, the foliage has little scent. Small nutlets follow and ripen in the clusters. The species grows in marshes, wet meadows, ditches, and along streams and pond edges, tolerating seasonal flooding and saturated soil. It spreads by rhizomes that form small overwintering tubers at the tips, starting new plants nearby. In drier ground the plant stays short and may go dormant early. The flowers draw small bees, wasps, and flies.
Native Range
Lycopus americanus is native to most of North America, across southern Canada and the United States except the far southeast. It grows in marshes, wet meadows, shorelines, ditches, and floodplains in full sun to part shade.Suggested Uses
Used in rain gardens, pond and stream margins, and constructed wetlands for water filtering and bank stabilization, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Suited to wet, sunny sites where its spreading roots bind saturated soil. The flowers support small native bees and wasps.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Lycopus americanus in full sun to part shade on consistently moist to wet soils, including clay, loam, and mucky ground. It tolerates standing water and seasonal flooding and accepts a pH from 5.5 to 7.5. The rhizomes spread the plant into colonies, so room must be allowed or a contained wet area used. Plants reach full size in a single season and need no fertilizer in fertile wet soils. In drier conditions growth stays short and the plant may go dormant by late summer. Dividing crowded colonies in spring controls their spread.Pruning
No detailed pruning is needed for this wetland perennial. Stems can be cut to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear. Removing rhizomes at the colony edge limits its spread in mixed plantings.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons