Prunella vulgaris (Self Heal) 9 cm Pot

Growth habit & appearance:Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as Self Heal, is a low, spreading perennial with square stems, glossy green leaves and compact spikes of rich purple-violet flowers. It naturally forms a soft, living carpet that weaves between other plants or through grass, adding colour from early summer onwards. As a native Irish wildflower it is highly attractive to bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly lawns, paths and herbal borders.

Growing conditions:Self Heal is fully hardy in Ireland and thrives in our cool, moist climate. It is happy in full sun to light shade and will grow in most reasonably fertile soils, from lawn edges to meadow-style plantings. As a native Irish and wider European species it copes well with wet winters and cooler summers, and once established needs very little extra care beyond occasional weeding around young plants. All our plants are raised from seed in our nursery in Co. Clare and are well adapted to Irish growing conditions.

Traditional & herbal uses:Prunella vulgaris has a long European folk history as a wound herb, used externally on cuts, grazes and minor skin irritations. Modern phytochemical studies show that the aerial parts contain rosmarinic acid, triterpenes and flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and extracts have been investigated in vitro for effects on inflammatory bowel pathways and immune modulation. It has also been traditionally prepared as a soothing tea or gargle for sore throats, mouth and gum irritation and mild diarrhoeal complaints. 

Maintenance & harvesting:In an Irish garden Self Heal is easy to look after: plant out in its final position, water during dry spells in the first summer and allow it to knit into a mat. It will gently spread by creeping stems and seed, so it suits informal lawns, wild corners and herb beds; simply mow or trim around patches where you want to limit its spread. Harvest the whole aerial parts in dry weather as the flower spikes come into full bloom and dry them promptly for later use. Leaving some flowers to set seed supports finches and maintains the colony for following years. As with all medicinal plants, introduce it gradually into any personal use and avoid harvesting from areas heavily used by pets or along busy roads.