Self-Heal (Heal-All)

Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata

Lamiaceae

• Spokane Native
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Mature Size: 1–3' tall and wide
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate; prefers moist, well-drained soil but is adaptable
• Flower Color: Purple / blue (May–September)
• Wildlife Benefits: Bees and butterflies

This native subspecies of self-heal is found throughout much of North America, including eastern Washington, in moist meadows, open woods, and disturbed grassy areas. It spreads readily by both rhizomes and creeping stolons, forming a low, semi-evergreen mat in favorable conditions, and tolerates a range of soils as long as some moisture is available through the growing season.

Dense, square-tipped whorls of small, two-lipped, purple to blue flowers are held in compact terminal spikes above low mats of oval, slightly toothed leaves, blooming over a long stretch of the growing season from late spring into fall.

The flowers are a steady nectar source for bees and butterflies over its long bloom period. Self-heal carries one of the broadest ethnobotanical and folk-medicine histories of any temperate-zone plant — its common name reflects centuries of traditional use across many cultures worldwide as a poultice or infusion for wounds, sore throats, and inflammation, a reputation echoed in its use by numerous Indigenous North American communities as well.

Useful as a low-maintenance flowering groundcover in meadow plantings, pollinator gardens, and informal borders, or as a lawn substitute in areas with light foot traffic. Because it spreads by both rhizome and stolon, give it room to roam or contain it where a tidier look is preferred.