Marrubium vulgare

Marrubium vulgare, better known as white horehound or common horehound, is an indigenous plant related to sage (Lamiaceae family). It is a very hardy perennial that requires little water. Its thick, wavy, whitish and cottony leaves release a fairly strong odour reminiscent of thyme when crushed. Its long-lasting flowering is white and rather inconspicuous, but it is popular with bees. In traditional medicine and phytotherapy, white horehound is used for respiratory ailments. It thrives in the sun, in any well-drained soil, even limestone and dry in summer.

White horehound is native to southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Depending on the region, it is also known as common horehound or Virgin herb. In nature, it is found on the edges of roads, in dry meadows and wastelands, in the sun, on often limestone and well-drained land. The plant, which resembles a greyish mint, forms a clump of leafy stems reaching 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) in height. These upright stems with square cross-sections are covered with a greyish felting. They bear thick, wavy, whitish and cottony leaves, measuring 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long. The foliage is aromatic when crushed. The nectar and honey-producing flowering, like that of many Lamiaceae, extends from May to September. Small bilabiate white flowers bloom in the axils of the small leaves that line the upper part of the stems. The deciduous foliage is absent in winter.

Horehound is a lovely rockery, field, or naturalistic plant. This perennial pairs well with lavender, thyme, common sage, oregano, and other savoury herbs. All these aromatic plants thrive in sunny, well-drained soils, even poor, limestone and dry ones. In phytotherapy, it is used in infusion, decoction, or macerated in wine. Its cooked leaves are edible, but their bitterness is not appreciated by our palate.