Practical
Plants

Prunella grandiflora

a perennial evergreen member of the Prunella genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.45 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[9][11][2]. A mild flavour[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position or light shade[5][6]. It requires weeding for the first year or so[6]. They are best spaced about 45cm apart each way[8]. Plants have not been a reliable ground cover in Cornwall, often dying after flowering, though they usually self-sow[K].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Europe.
Habitat
Grassland, usually in calcareous soils[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow in mid spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in mid to late spring. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in any damp soil in a shady position[1][3] or in full sun[7]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[4]. The sub-species P. grandiflora pyrenaica has larger flowers and is found wild on acid soils whilst the type species is usually found on alkaline soils[4]. Plants tend to be short-lived, often dying out after flowering heavily in the summer[8]. Fortunately, they will usually self-sow freely[K]. Most plants are hermaphrodite but sometimes male plants are found.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

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  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  6. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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