Prunella grandiflora

(L.) Scholler.

Bigflower Selfheal, Large Self-heal, Prunella Loveliness

Lamiaceae Edible: Leaves, Flower nectar 6,265 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Prunella grandiflora, the large-flowered selfheal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Europe and neighboring parts of West Asia.

Description

A slightly hairy herb. It grows 30-60 cm high. It spreads 30-60 cm wide. It forms mats. The branches are woody. The leaves are oval and 10 cm across. They can be scalloped along the edge. The flowers are white with violet tips. They are 2.5 cm long and grow in spikes.

Edible Uses

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have a mild flavour.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are sucked for their nectar.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows well near the edge of water. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or by division.

Propagation

Sow seed in mid spring in a cold frame. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant out during summer. With sufficient seed, sowing can be done outdoors in situ from mid to late spring. Division in spring or autumn is very easy; larger divisions can go straight into permanent positions. Smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established, then planted out in late spring or early summer.

Other Uses

Can be used as ground cover in a sunny position or light shade, requiring weeding for the first year or so. Plants are best spaced about 45cm apart each way. In Cornwall, plants have not proven reliably persistent as ground cover, often dying after flowering, though they usually self-sow.

Notes

There are about 7 Prunella species.

Synonyms

Several

Also Known As

Herba melera, Velecvetna črnoglavka

References (11)

Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 394
Bonet, M. A. & Valles, J., 2002, Use of non-crop food vascular plants in Montseny biosphere reserve (Catalonia, Iberian Peninsula). International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition (2002) 53, 225–248 (As subsp. pyrenaica)
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1091
Flora of China.
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 240

Show all 11 references

http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Lawton, B.P., 2002, Mints. A Family of Herbs and Ornamentals. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. p 177
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Rigat, M et al, 2009, Ethnobotany of Food Plants in the High River Ter Valley (Pyrenees, catalonia, Iberian Peninsula): Non-Crop Food Vascular Plants and Crop Food Plants with medicinal Properties. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 48:303-327
Slocum, P.D. & Robinson, P., 1999, Water Gardening. Water Lilies and Lotuses. Timber Press. p 132
Tardio, J., et al, Ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants in Spain. Botanical J. Linnean Soc. 152 (2006), 27-71