Black Horehound
Ballota nigra
Also listed as Ballota sordida, Marrubium nigrum
Also known as Fetid Horehound
Climate Match for your location
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A hardy, aromatic perennial with dark green leaves and small pinkish-purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It tolerates poor soil and drought once established, making it useful for naturalized areas.
Why grow it
Black horehound offers reliable pollinator forage in situations where many ornamentals struggle, particularly in poor or degraded soils where establishment is otherwise difficult. Compared to cultivated bee plants, it requires minimal maintenance once established and tolerates both drought and neglect, making it practical for low-input landscape restoration or naturalized plantings rather than managed garden beds.
Watch out for
The plant has a notably unpleasant smell when brushed or handled, which may limit its appeal in areas where people regularly pass through or brush against it. It self-seeds readily in suitable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if volunteer seedlings become unwanted in adjoining beds.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A hardy, aromatic perennial with dark green leaves and small pinkish-purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. It tolerates poor soil and drought once established, making it useful for naturalized areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Black Horehound grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Black horehound offers reliable pollinator forage in situations where many ornamentals struggle, particularly in poor or degraded soils where establishment is otherwise difficult. Compared to cultivated bee plants, it requires minimal maintenance once established and tolerates both drought and neglect, making it practical for low-input landscape restoration or naturalized plantings rather than managed garden beds.
Watch out for
The plant has a notably unpleasant smell when brushed or handled, which may limit its appeal in areas where people regularly pass through or brush against it. It self-seeds readily in suitable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if volunteer seedlings become unwanted in adjoining beds.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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