Leonurus cardiaca

RHS Plant Profile

motherwort

Other common names

cow wort, lion's ear, lion's tail

Herbaceous Perennial

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A deciduous, herbaceous perennial wildflower with deeply-lobed palmate green foliage and whorls of purple-pink to white flowers with purple-spotted lips around a central stem which appear in the summer. Known for it's historical use in medicine for heart-related issues and also a great source of nectar for pollinating insects. Honey made from the nectar of this plant has a strong, mint-like flavour

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: A genus of flowering shrubs, native to Europe and Asia and one of the key herbs used in Chinese medicine. The green foliage can be either lance-shaped or deeply lobed and palm-shaped. Flowers appear in whirls on upright stems and are either tubular-shaped red-orange or purple-pink to white, depending on the species
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, from Scandinavia to N Spain, Italy and Greece, naturalised in S Britain

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow from seed (these may benefit from being cold-stratified) or by rooted cuttings taken from established plants. Grow in well-drained soil in sun or part shade

Propagation

Prefers well-drained, poor soil but wiill grow almost anywhere and can cope with heavy soils

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free