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Marsh Woundwort Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Marsh Woundwort

Stachys palustris

Healing and remedy.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Stachys
Native to
Europe, Asia, North America
Bloom season
Summer
Type
herbaceous
Height
1-3 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
wet, heavy, fertile
Water
high
Hardiness
4-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The name 'woundwort' comes from its long history of being applied as a poultice to stop bleeding and heal wounds on battlefields.
  • The 17th-century herbalist John Gerard documented successfully treating a scythe wound using marsh woundwort leaves.
  • Its white, fleshy tubers are edible and were eaten as a starchy vegetable in parts of Asia, tasting similar to a mild radish.
  • The square stems, typical of the mint family, are covered in stiff, downward-pointing hairs that help deter climbing insects.
  • Bumblebees are the primary pollinators and must push past a ring of hairs inside the flower to reach the nectar.

Color meanings

0

healing

1

remedy

2

soothing

Uses

  • traditional wound healing
  • wetland garden
  • edible tubers
  • wildlife habitat