Horehound

Marrubium vulgare

Horehound is a hardy member of the mint family. It has fuzzy gray-green foliage and small white flowers. Like mint, this plant can become invasive. Horehound is not fussy about growing conditions but prefers full sun and good drainage. Neither deer nor rabbits eat horehound unless they are extremely hungry. Plant the herb to deter these pests if they are a problem in your neighborhood. Horehound has traditionally been used as a cough suppressant or to make candy.

Type: Herb

Height: 1 to 3 feet

Width: 2-3 feet

Flower color: White

Foliage color: Gray/Silver

Seasonal features: Summer bloom

Problem solvers: Deer resistant, Drought tolerant

Special features: Cut flowers, Fragrance, Good for containers, Low maintenance

Zones: 3-9

Growing Horehound

Horehound may be cultivated wherever there is sun and sufficient soil to cover the seed. Sow the seed directly in the garden in spring. Once the seedlings have developed and are thinned to 12 inches apart, they will thrive with little attention.

Though the plants won’t blossom until the year after they’re started, they can be harvested during the first year so long as no more than one-third of the top growth is removed. Each year thereafter, you can cut the plants back to four inches above the ground before they flower.