Prunella vulgaris - Self-heal

The Prunella vulgaris, also known as Selfheal, Heal-All, or Carpenter's Herb, is a perennial botanical species found in France and Europe, traditionally used for its therapeutic properties. Its compact spikes loaded with small nectar-rich flowers adorn its beautiful velvety foliage in shades of blue-violet during the summer. This vigorous and hardy perennial is ideal for rock gardens or sunny borders. It spreads through creeping stems in moist, rocky, and limestone soils, forming a ground cover that requires very little maintenance. It leaves little room for weeds and can also replace grass in small, cool, and low-traffic areas.

The Prunella vulgaris is a cousin of dead-nettles, salvias, and thymes, belonging to the lamiaceae family. It is native to central and southern Europe, where it grows on limestone soils in fields, pastures, or wooded paths. This perennial develops rapidly from a creeping stem, sending up ascending or erect stems that root at the nodes upon contact with the ground. It forms a slightly spreading, ramified basal tuft, 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) in height, gradually spreading over time. Flowering occurs from June to September depending on the climate. The plant produces short, compact spikes, clearly above its foliage, on square stems, with 2 cm (1in) wide flowers in a blue-violet colour. This nectar-rich flowering attracts numerous pollinating insects. The leaves are opposite, lanceolate, villous, 3 cm (1in) wide, petiolate, entire or dentate, strongly veined, in a beautiful dark green colour. They persist to a varying degree in winter, depending on the climate.

With its compact and ramified habit, Prunella vulgaris is perfectly suitable as a ground cover, in borders, rock gardens, or even in containers and pots. The only requirement for successful cultivation is to choose a moist, well-drained soil. It also performs well in semi-shaded locations, under trees or shrubs, alongside other Selfheals, such as Prunella grandiflora Pink Loveliness or White Loveliness. Also consider pairing it with Hardy Geranium macrorrhizum, for example. It can also be associated with alpine plants such as Androsaces or the Himalayan Primrose.