Minnesota Wildflowers


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Prunella vulgaris (Self-heal)

Plant Info
Also known as: Heal-all
Genus:Prunella
Family:Lamiaceae (Mint)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; roadsides, open woods, fields
Bloom season:June - October
Plant height:6 to 20 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: irregular tubular spike

[photo of flower] A thick spike, 1 to 2 inches long, of irregular flowers about ½-inch long. The upper lip is blue to purple-blue. The lower lip has 3 lobes; the 2 side lobes are small and light blue to lavender, the center lobe is white and fringed all around the edges.

Leaves and stem: opposite simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 2¾ inches long and to 1 inch across, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip; sometimes the tip is slightly rounded. Like all members of the Mint family, the leaves are opposite and the stem is square.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Wild River State Park, Center City, MN, July 2007

Comments

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

Posted by: Jody K in Mahtomedi
on: 2009-07-17 16:57:06

Wild in the wood/wetland behind White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church. Hadn't seen this before, thanks for the help in ID.

Posted by: Ellen
on: 2010-04-25 12:22:17

This is the first time I've seen a photo that remotely resembles the plant growing in our back lawn. I'm surprised that the aggressive "weed" might be something native!

Posted by: Rodney in st louis county near two harbors along fox farm road
on: 2010-07-05 08:06:30

It seemed to me at first to be a mint (squarish stem) but it didn't have much mint aroma. Thanks for the web site.

Posted by: Jim in Voyageur's Nat'l Park, Kettle Falls Hotel
on: 2010-07-12 22:05:04

Also in bloom was the lesser purple fringed orchid within a few feet. Found in the wetland between the hotel and the dam.

Posted by: Gail in central Cass County in N.C. Minn.
on: 2010-07-19 11:36:03

I've got heal-all growing in several spots on my rather untended lawn.

Posted by: Linda in Washington County
on: 2011-07-07 16:45:43

Lots of this plant blooming now at Sunfish Lake Regional Park in Washington County

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