Leonurus cardiaca Seeds | Motherwort
LATIN NAME: Leonurus cardiaca
COMMON NAME: Motherwort, Common Motherwort
Plant Profile
Leonurus cardiaca, commonly known as Motherwort, is a tall, upright, herb in the mint family, native to waste ground, hedgerows and roadsides of Europe and the Asia, while it has been used in traditions for a very long time. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the mint family regularly include Leonurus cardiaca in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Motherwort has a real and distinguished place in research. In the laboratory and trial ground alike, it serves as workable material for propagation research and line selection.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Motherwort for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Motherwort is a tall, upright, herbaceous perennial of waste ground and hedgerows, bearing palmate, lobed leaves and small, pink, two-lipped flowers in whorls up stems in the summer. To raise motherwort, sow seeds on surface of pots of moist, open soil in a bright, cool place, keep them gently watered, and grow little plants on in the sun. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Motherwort, Yi Mu Cao, is a major Chinese and European women’s herb, traditionally used after childbirth and for menstrual comfort; its alkaloids, including leonurine, are studied for uterine and cardiovascular effects.
Growing from Seed
Raising Motherwort from seed is straightforward. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in bright light with steady moisture. A spell of cool, moist conditions ahead of sowing brings the seed along nicely and supports even germination. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Motherwort, Common Motherwort settles in quickly once it finds its footing. The seed responds well to a spell of cold stratification, a small step that pays off.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Motherwort often pair it with these related subjects: