An attractive hardy perennial with soft downy leaves that tend to remain throughout the winter. A well-known herb for the treatment of coughs, in recent history, it could be bought in sweet shops as cough drops. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Adds winter interest in the garden
- Easy to maintain
- Rich in nectar for honeybees
- Aromatic
This was once a staple cottage garden herb and was taken with European emigrants wherever they went, so it is now found growing in many countries. It adds some texture to a border especially when there are lots of ‘green’ plants growing in spring.
Plant Care
- Height: 30-60cm
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun
- Soil: Any/alkaline
- Flower colour: White
- Flowering period: June - August
A perennial herb, horehound barely dies down for the winter – it stays green for all but the very cold spells and is quick to regrow from the stems left standing. Once established it requires little attention other than cutting back after flowering to encourage more of that attractive soft downy growth. It doesn’t like to get too wet during winter, so if growing in a pot make sure it is well drained and isn’t in a pot that contains a lot of compost that that hasn’t been rooted into.
Usage
Horehound has a long history of use for treating coughs; it wasn’t too many years ago that horehound cough candy could be bought at local sweet shops. A tea can be made from the leaves and flowers to help with chronic coughs, or they can be infused in honey which can be taken by the teaspoonful or used in hot water or to sweeten herb teas. It is an easy her to cut and dry – it can then be powdered and stored in an airtight container for year round use.