One Rooted Motherwort Plant (Leonurus cardiaca)

Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca, is an herbaceous perennial of the mint family that typically grows to 2-4’ tall. Unlike mint, Motherwort does not have invasive runners but instead mainly propagates itself by seed. This beautiful herb grows narrow and upright with four-angled stems are clad with pairs of opposite, wedge-shaped, long-stalked, medium green leaves. Motherwort leaves have three distinctive lobes with pointed tips that are generally 1-4” long. Flowers are small tubular pink to mauve blooms from June to August in tall spikes attracting bees and hummingbirds.

Motherwort will grow in full sun to full shade, preferring moist, rich soils in part shade. It may naturalize if given optimal conditions and can be drought tolerant once established. Growing Motherwort is a wonderful way to attract pollinators to your garden. Perennial in USDA zones 3-10.

To prevent self-seeding and keep your plants from taking over, you can cut it back about three to five inches to keep the seeds from maturing and falling to the ground. Some prefer to plant their motherwort in pots to control the spread of the plant.

Motherwort can be used as a condiment in various vegetable soup recipes, particularly with lentils or split peas, or for flavoring of beer and tea. Leaves are delightfully bitter and can be tinctured for many medicinal uses. Motherwort has a long history of serving as an herbal with medicinal properties.