Herb. No. 091 · Lamiaceae
A circumboreal lawn mint — Europe, Asia, and North America.
Native · Europe · North America · East Asia
Native Also grown
OpenGentleplant
Self-heal
Prunella vulgaris
The purple lawn mint you already step on — a traditional throat gargle and wound wash.
Prunella is a circumboreal mint of paths and meadows. European and Chinese traditions both used the flowering spike for sore throat, sores, and as a cooling herb. Culinary use is modest. Identify the squat purple head. It is already in many lawns if you stop mowing a strip.
Flavor
Mild, green, slightly bitter mint. A gargle as much as a cup.
Parts used
Flowering tops
In favor
- Already in the grass
- Gentle
Against
- Lawn chemicals make a bad tea
- Not a dramatic herb — that is the point