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Prunella, Genus, vulgaris, Species,

Genus & species

self heal

Circumboreal; native genotypes occur across North America, Europe, and Asia, with the introduced European genotype more aggressive in managed turf; lawns, meadows, woodland edges, and moist disturbed ground from sea level to approximately 8,000 feet (2,400 m).

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Prunella vulgaris is a low stoloniferous perennial reaching 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall and 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide, forming dense creeping mats. Stems are square (the Lamiaceae family identification feature), prostrate to ascending, rooting at the nodes, and sparsely hairy. Leaves are opposite, ovate to lance-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, with entire to slightly toothed margins, on short petioles. Two-lipped purple to violet-blue flowers 0.4-0.5 inch (10-13 mm) long open from May through September in dense cylindrical terminal heads (verticillasters) 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, subtended by broad purplish bracts that remain visible after the flowers drop. Each bract pair subtends 3-6 flowers; the upper corolla lip is hood-shaped and the lower lip is three-lobed with a fringed central lobe. Fruit consists of four smooth nutlets per flower, the typical Lamiaceae fruit type. A single plant produces 500-3,000 seeds. Stolons root at the nodes, and established plantings expand laterally into circular patches. Both native North American genotypes and introduced European genotypes occur; the introduced form tends to spread more aggressively in managed turf. Plants are common in moist shaded turf across the Pacific Northwest, and the species has a long historical record of use in European and Chinese traditional medicine for the rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid content of the foliage. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9 (-40°F / -40°C).

Native Range

Prunella vulgaris has a circumboreal distribution, with native genotypes across North America, Europe, and Asia, and an introduced European genotype that tends to be more aggressive in managed turf. Plants grow in lawns, meadows, woodland edges, and moist disturbed ground from sea level to approximately 8,000 feet (2,400 m). The species is common in moist partially shaded lawns throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Suggested Uses

The species is used in Lamiaceae identification courses for teaching the square stem, opposite leaves, two-lipped corolla, and four-nutlet fruit, with the dense cylindrical flower head (verticillaster) serving as a teaching example of this inflorescence type. The native-versus-introduced genotype question parallels similar situations in Phalaris arundinacea and Phragmites australis and is a teaching case in invasion biology. Plants have a long historical record of use in European and Chinese traditional medicine for rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid content in the foliage. The species is retained in pollinator gardens and meadow plantings where the native genotype is present.

How to Identify

A low stoloniferous perennial 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall with square stems (Lamiaceae family feature), opposite ovate-to-lance-shaped leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, and stolons that root at the nodes to form expanding mats. Dense cylindrical terminal flower heads (verticillasters) 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long carry two-lipped purple to violet-blue flowers from May through September, subtended by broad purplish bracts that remain on the stem after flowering. The combination of square stems, opposite leaves, dense cylindrical flower head, and creeping mat habit separates the species from Lamium purpureum (purple dead-nettle, which carries flowers in whorls at upper nodes on erect annual stems) and from other low-growing Lamiaceae in regional flora.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Flowers: May–September

Spring Summer Fall

Two-lipped purple to violet-blue flowers 0.4-0.5 inch (10-13 mm) long open from May through September in dense cylindrical terminal heads 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long, with heads blooming from the base upward over a total span of 8-12 weeks and peak bloom in June through August in the Pacific Northwest. Individual flowers last 2-3 days. Bees and butterflies work the flowers during bloom, and the species is self-compatible. After flowering, the purplish bracts remain on the stem and the head turns brown, with the dried structure persisting into fall as visible markers of previous bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Purple to violet-blue two-lipped (bilabiate) flowers 0.4-0.5 inch (10-13 mm) long in dense cylindrical terminal heads (verticillasters) 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long subtended by broad purplish bracts; the upper lip is hood-shaped, the lower lip three-lobed with a fringed central lobe

Foliage Description

Dark green; ovate to lance-shaped, opposite, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, with entire to slightly toothed margins; sparsely hairy; on short petioles; held on square stems (the Lamiaceae family-level identification feature)

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-8 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 Range5.5 - 7.5 (Acidic to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

loam silt clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Hand-pulling or digging the stoloniferous root system works for small patches, although all rooted stolon sections need to be removed because stolon fragments regenerate into new plants. In lawns, the low creeping habit survives standard mowing heights. Raising mowing height to 3 inches (8 cm) or above, reducing irrigation, and maintaining dense turf together reduce establishment opportunity. The species thrives in moist partially shaded moderately fertile turf, which is the baseline condition of many Pacific Northwest lawns. In garden settings, plants are sometimes retained as a low-maintenance ground cover and pollinator plant, and in native meadow settings the native genotype has ecological value and needs no management.

Pruning

No pruning is applicable in a weed management context. Plants are dug or pulled, and all stolons are removed to prevent regeneration. In garden settings where the species is retained as ground cover, mowing after flowering prevents self-seeding while the creeping mat is maintained.