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Common Self-heal

Prunella vulgaris

Other common name(s):

Heal All, Selfheal

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0
to
2
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium, High

Native Habitat

Woodland, Variable

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Beetles, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

Fast growing. It can adapt to a variety of soil, moisture, and light conditions. In very hot areas, provide a location that is protected from the hot afternoon sun. Great for a pollinator garden, groundcover, or wildflower meadow. Can even be mowed, but this will reduce pollinator benefit. Native habitat: disturbed soils such as pasturelands and roadsides, as well as moist edges of forests. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms May-September. A low growing perennial. The square stem has dense, cylindrical, terminal spikes of purple flowers and overlapping hairy bracts. The plant flowers when only 2″ tall and is common in lawns. The spikes elongate after flowering. Larval host: Clouded Sulphur.

References

1) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=13600&locationType=County&mapType=Normal; 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32381#null; 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRVU, 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Prunella+vulgaris&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 5) https://sparrowhawknativeplants.com/products/common-self-heal?variant=44597377466585
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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason