Common Motherwort
Leonurus cardiaca
Also listed as Cardiaca crispa, Cardiaca glabra
Also known as Motherwort
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A tall, herbaceous perennial with heart-shaped leaves and spiky pink or purple flowers that bloom throughout summer. Commonly grown for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
Why grow it
Motherwort is a hardy perennial that requires minimal inputs once established, making it useful for low-maintenance herb gardens and pollinator habitat. Compared to other cardiac herb candidates like hawthorn or linden, it tolerates poor soils and drought better, though it lacks their demonstrated cardiovascular efficacy in formal study. It flowers prolifically throughout summer without deadheading, supporting late-season pollinators when other nectar sources may be limited.
Watch out for
Motherwort self-seeds readily in open garden settings, so it benefits from deliberate siting away from formal beds or seed-sensitive areas. The plant has a strong, somewhat unpleasant smell when crushed or brushed against, which some gardeners may find objectionable during tending. Flowering stems can become woody and brittle by late season, making cleanup potentially awkward without advance planning.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall, herbaceous perennial with heart-shaped leaves and spiky pink or purple flowers that bloom throughout summer. Commonly grown for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Motherwort grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Motherwort is a hardy perennial that requires minimal inputs once established, making it useful for low-maintenance herb gardens and pollinator habitat. Compared to other cardiac herb candidates like hawthorn or linden, it tolerates poor soils and drought better, though it lacks their demonstrated cardiovascular efficacy in formal study. It flowers prolifically throughout summer without deadheading, supporting late-season pollinators when other nectar sources may be limited.
Watch out for
Motherwort self-seeds readily in open garden settings, so it benefits from deliberate siting away from formal beds or seed-sensitive areas. The plant has a strong, somewhat unpleasant smell when crushed or brushed against, which some gardeners may find objectionable during tending. Flowering stems can become woody and brittle by late season, making cleanup potentially awkward without advance planning.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
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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