



















Common Self Heal
Prunella vulgaris
Other names: heal all, woundwort, heart of the earth, carpenter’s herb, brownwort, blue curls
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Range: Europe, Asia and North America
Native: Native
Native Habitat: Woodland edges, disturbed habitat, lawns
Bloom Time: May to September
Notes:
The plant is edible, and can be used in salads, or steeped as a beverage.
Prunella is derived from ‘Brunella’, which comes from “die Bräune”, the German name for quinsy (a type of throat inflammation), which it was historically used to cure. (1) It’s found in traditional medicine all over the world.
There are two subspecies in New England – Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata is a native, while Prunella vulgaris var. elongatea is introduced. (2)
Locations in Photos
- Assabet NWR, Sudbury, MA
- Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge, NH
- Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay, ME
- Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth, ME
- Ellsworth, ME
- Fort McClary State Historic Site, Kittery, ME
- Libbytown Neighborhood, Portland, ME
- Mackworth Island State Park, Falmouth, ME
- Molly Stark Trail (Route 9), VT
- Pride Preserve, Westbrook, ME
- Spohr Gardens, Falmouth, MA
- Timber Point, Biddeford, ME
- Two Lights State Park, Cape Elizabeth, ME
- Wolfes Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, ME
Resources
- Wikipedia (1)
- Go Botany (2)
- USDA Plant Profiles
- Wildflower.org
- Native American Ethnobotany Database
- Kew Plants of the World Online
- Plants for a Future
- Microscopy UK – Really neat, very close up pictures.
- Illinois Wildflowers
- Nature Serve

3/5/23 Updated to current WordPress format.
