Description
Prunella vulgaris
Perennial ground-hugging herb of the mint family, typically found in moist to wet lawns, but can also tolerate dryness. Self-heal has a creeping stem which allows it to form dense mats. When allowed to flower, its coppery-purple spikes can reach 20cm high and are very attractive to bees. It is tolerant of the many selective turf herbicides some people choose to throw at it. I say hurrah to that (!) as self-heal is also a highly regarded wound herb with a long history of use in folk medicine. In Chinese it is known as Xia Ku Cao. The active ingredients in prunella include flavonoids, tannins, saponins and triterpenes. It is good for stimulating the immune system, and for treating fevers and diarrhoea, inflammatory diseases and ulcers in the mouth and throat. The leaves are edible and can be used in salads or infused in cold water for a refreshing tea. An olive-green dye can be made from the flowers and stems.
9cm pot. Certified organic plant.
