White Horehound Medicine Herb

Common throughout Europe and America, the plant grows wild everywhere from coastal to mountainous areas. The botanical name comes from the Hebrew 'marrob' which translates as 'bitter juice'. The common name is derived from the old English 'har hune' meaning a downy plant.

SPECIES

Marrubium vulgare

White Horehound

Hardy perennial. Ht 45cm (18in), spread 30cm (12in). Small clusters of white flowers from the second year' in midsummer. The leaves are green and wrinkled with an underside of a silver woolly texture. There is also a variegated version.

CULTIVATION

Propagation

Seed

The fairly small seed should be sown in early spring in a seed or plug tray, using the bark, grit, peal mix of compost. Germination lakes 2-3 weeks. Prick out into pets or transplant to the garden after a period of hardening off

Cuttings

Softwood cuttings taken from the new growth in summer usually root within 3-4 weeks. Use the bark, grit, peat mix of compost. Winter under protection in a cold frame or cold greenhouse.

Division Established clumps benefit from division in the spring.

Pests and Diseases

If it is very wet and cold in winter, the plant can rot off.

Maintenance

Spring: Divide established clumps. Prune new growth to maintain shape. Sow seed.

Summer: Trim after (lowering to stop the plant flopping and prevent self-seeding. Take cuttings.

Autumn: Divide only if it has dangerously transgressed its limits.

Winter: Protect only if season excessively wet.

Garden Cultivation

White horehound grows best in well-drained, dryish soil, biased to alkaline, sunny and protected from high winds. Seed can be sown direct into a prepared garden in late spring, once the soil has started to warm up. Thin the seedlings to 30cm (12in) distance apart.

Harvest

The leaves and flowering tops are gathered in the spring, just as the plants come into flower, when the essential oil is at its richest. Use fresh or dried.

CONTAINER GROWING

Horehound can be grown in a large container situated in a sunny position. Use a compost which drains well and do not overwater. Only feed after flowering otherwise it produces lush growth which is too soft.

OTHER USES

Infuse the leaf as a spray for cankerworm in trees.

Mix the infusion with milk and put in a dish as a fly killer. Do not spray!

MEDICINAL

White horehound is still extensively used in cough medicine, and for calming a nervous heart; its property, marrubiin, in small amounts, normalizes an irregular heart beat. The plant has also been used to reduce fevers and treat malaria.

A Cold Cure

Finely chop 9 small horehound leaves. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey and eat slowly to ease sore throat or cough. Repeat several times if necessary.

Cough Sweets

100g/4oz of fresh, white horehound leaves Vi teaspoon of crushed aniseed 3 crushed cardamom seeds

Put into 600ml/ 1 pint of water and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain through a filter. Over a low heat, dissolve 350g/12oz of white sugar and 350g/12oz of moist brown sugar in the liquid and boil over a medium heat until the syrup hardens when drops are put into cold water. Pour into an oiled tray. Score when partially cooled. Store in wax paper.