Minnesota Wildflowers


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Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Leonurus
Family:Lamiaceae (Mint)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:Asia
Habitat:sun; wet or dry, woods, fields, disturbed soil
Bloom season:June - August
Plant height:2 to 4 feet
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: irregular tubular whorled

[photo of flowers] Clusters of pink flowers surround the stem at the leaf joints in the upper part of the plant. Individual flowers are tubular, about 1/3-inch long with a very hairy upper lip. The lower lip is a darker purplish color, narrow and folds up lengthwise.

Leaves and stem: opposite lobed

[photo of leaves] Leaves vary in size and shape as they ascend the main stem. The lower leaves are deeply lobed in 3 parts with large teeth and often resemble maple leaves. They can be up to 5 inches long and nearly as wide, on long leaf stems. They are somewhat hairy. They progressively become smaller, the lobes and teeth less deep; at the top of the plant they are usually narrow, unlobed with a few widely spaced teeth. Like all members of the Mint family, attachment is opposite and the main stem is square.

Notes:

Motherwort tends to grow in clusters. I see it growing mostly at the edges of woods.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN, June 2006 and July 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Jenifer in Minneapolis
on: 2011-06-29 11:47:43

I have some of this growing in my perrenial garden and have been trying to figure out what it is. Now I'm glad I pulled most of it out.

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