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Prunella vulgaris
  • Self-Heal

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

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Prunella vulgaris has 0 edible uses listed
Prunella vulgaris has 0 material uses listed
Prunella vulgaris has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[1]. They can be used in salads, soups, stews etc[2]. Somewhat bitter due to the presence of tannin in the leaves, though this can be removed by washing the leaves[3]. A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is used as a refreshing beverage[4][2]. Very tasty[5].

Unknown part

Drink

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

An olive-green dye is obtained from the flowers and stems[5]. The plant is a good ground-cover in sunny positions or light shade[6].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Self heal has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, sores etc[7]. It was also taken internally as a tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea, sore mouth, internal bleeding etc[8][9]. In Korea it is used to treat oedema, nephritis, scrofula and goitre[10].

The whole plant is alterative, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[8][1][11][12][13][14]. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas, Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc[13]. It can be used fresh or dried, for drying it is best harvested in mid-summer[8].

The plant is experimentally antibiotic and hypotensive[14][9].

Unknown part

Alterative
Antibacterial
Antibiotic
Antipyretic
Antiseptic
Antispasmodic
Astringent
Carminative
Diuretic
Febrifuge
Hypotensive
Stomachic
Styptic
Tonic
Vermifuge
Vulnerary

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Prunella vulgaris. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Thrives in any damp soil[15], in full sun or in light shade[16]. Plants are apt to become troublesome weeds in turf that is at all damp[15]. Self heal is a good plant for growing in the spring meadow[17].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Prunella vulgaris. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Prunella vulgaris.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Prunella vulgaris
Genus
Prunella
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[7][8][9][10][1][11][12][13][14]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6]
Botanic
[18][6]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.15 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila ISBN 92 9061 120 0 (1998-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.113.2 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.114.2 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    16. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    17. ? Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
    18. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Prunella vulgaris1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Prunella_vulgaris&oldid=79713"
    Facts about "Prunella vulgaris"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLabiatae +
    Belongs to genusPrunella +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has binomial namePrunella vulgaris +
    Has common nameSelf-Heal +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Leaves +
    Has edible useDrink + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeBees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has imagePrunella vulgaris1.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +
    Has mature height0.15 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAlterative +, Antibacterial +, Antibiotic +, Antipyretic +, Antiseptic +, Antispasmodic +, Astringent +, Carminative +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge +, Hypotensive +, Stomachic +, Styptic +, Tonic +, Vermifuge + and Vulnerary +
    Has primary imagePrunella vulgaris1.jpg +
    Has search nameprunella vulgaris + and self-heal +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy namePrunella vulgaris +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris +, Prunella vulgaris + and Prunella vulgaris +