Motherwort

What Motherwort is

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is a perennial herb of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). A perennial herbaceous plant with a woody rhizome. The stem is straight, 50—120 cm tall, four-angled, hollow, green or red-violet.

The leaves are on long stalks, ovate. The flowers are in whorls in the upper part of the stem, in the leaf axils.

The corolla is light red, 9 mm long, two-lipped, the upper lip entire, white-fibrous or bare on the outside, the lower three-lobed.

Motherwort regulates heart activity and menstruation; it is hypotensive and diuretic.

Motherwort is a medicinal herb traditionally used to calm the heart and nerves.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 85%
• Seeds per packet: 170–230 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: February – April; seedlings or direct
• Flowering: July – September
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Motherwort

Motherwort seeds are sown in February – April. The plants flower from July to September. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Motherwort

• Sowing method: seedlings or direct
• Depth: 0.5 cm
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–22 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Sow in early spring. Flowers July—August (September). Barely cover the seeds with soil, firm down well and keep evenly moist until germination, which takes place after 1 to 3 weeks. Sow directly in the garden or start in pots. The plant prefers partial shade to full sun, ordinary garden soil and plenty of water.

Undemanding, self-seeding.

Harvest and use

The flowering tops are picked and dried.

Frequently asked questions

When should Motherwort be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – April. Sowing method: seedlings or direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 170–230 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 85%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.