How to Grow Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
This article is part of our “How to Grow Herbs” series. If you would like to learn more about how to work with this plant after you harvest it, please refer to our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here.
Prunella is a common, non-aromatic mint family plant that is often called self heal or heal-all, although these common names also refer to other plants in some places, so it is important to know it by its scientific name.
Growth Habit
Like plantain, self heal commonly grows in lawns and is quite content to live in regularly mown areas, though you can also plant it in a raised bed and allow it to grow a bit larger (it usually grows no taller than 12”). It will spread a bit, both by seed and through runners, but is not as aggressive as some of the other spreading mint family plants.
Growing Conditions
When I find self heal growing wild, it is often at the border of the woods - just where the tree line starts - happily nestled into partly shaded areas underneath taller plants. I tend to find it most at higher elevations, though I am certain you could also find it in pastures or meadows. I have also seen it growing in grassy areas at parks. It is a hardy perennial to USDA zone 3 and dies back to the ground in winter.
It will grow in just about any soil, as long as it has good drainage. The plants will grow largest and most lush, however, when planted in well-amended soil. They do well in full sun or partial shade. In full shade, they can languish a bit over time.
Growing Self Heal from Seed
Self heal is easiest to propagate via rooted cuttings. It can also be grown from seeds without difficulty. I like to scatter the seeds directly in the place where I want the plants to grow during the fall season. The wintertime temperatures will stratify them naturally and the seedlings emerge in spring. I usually do this by taking a few of the mature flower heads that have dried completely and shake them upside-down over the area where I want the plants to grow to scatter their seeds.
You can also start the seeds indoors in trays or pots. To do this, you will need to refrigerate them for a few weeks first to expose them to cool temperatures. Barely cover with soil and keep evenly moist until germination occurs.
Learning More
If you would like to learn more about how to work with aromatic plants, I hope you will join me in our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here at Floranella! In it, I teach students how to safely and effectively work with over 100 different herbs as well as their applicable essential oils and hydrosols from the garden to the still to the apothecary. I hope to see you in class one day!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
