Horehound - Marrubium vulgare
200 Seeds
Sow Spring
Hardy perennial.
Height 45cm (18in), spread 30cm (12in).
Prefers a deep, sandy, well-drained soil in a sunny position but protect from the wind.
Sow the seeds 3 weeks before the last frost date. Horehound takes a long time to germinate, so you will need to plant it early in the spring. Sow the seeds about 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) deep. Horehound germinates best if it’s planted at a very shallow depth. Plant the seeds 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) deep or scatter them directly over the ground and cover them with a thin layer of soil
Small white clusters appear from midsummer to early autumn from the second year. The aromatic heart-shaped leaves are wrinkled and green, rough on top with an underside of a white woolly texture. The stem is downy, square, white and branching. Attractive to bees.
Horehound
Also known as Maribeum.
From the family Lamiaceae.
Common throughout Europe and America, the plant grows wild everywhere. The name is formed from Horus, the Egyptian god of sky and light. The botanical name comes from the Hebrew marrob, which translates as bitter juice. Its common name is derived from the old English term 'har hune' meaning downy plant. For thousands of years, horehound has been valued as a cough remedy and the Roman physician Galen used it to treat chest complaints. The Greek physician Hippocrates held this herb in high esteem for healing many ailments including asthma, jaundice, nervous heart rhythm, inflammations of the liver, tuberculosis and skin diseases. It was also thought to break magical spells.