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Native Plant Society of Texas

Common Self-heal

Prunella vulgaris

Other common name(s):

Heal All, Selfheal

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

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

.5
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

Spreads quickly. 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. Grows from short rhizomes to form a dense mat. It can be used as a groundcover or for erosion control. 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. The fruit is a smooth, round, nutlet. Larval host: Clouded Sulphur.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Seeds can be sown on-site in densities that are varied according to desired germination and survival outcomes. Plant mortality should be factored into any restoration project using Prunella vulgaris seeds on-site (in situ). When seeds are grown in greenhouses or cold frames, they are transplanted (approximately eight weeks when they are large enough to handle. Germination occurs within two to three weeks. Seed collection is most easily accomplished by collecting flower heads at the end of their growing season 1) https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/prunella_vulgaris.htm#:~:text=Soil%20requirements%20are%20not%20exacting,moist%20in%20full%2Dsun%20plantings. 2) https://wikis.evergreen.edu/pugetprairieplants/index.php/Prunella_vulgaris#:~:text=Seeds%20can%20be%20started%20in,late%20Fall%20to%20early%20Spring. 3) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/prunella-vulgaris
Stolon Cutting Propagation by stolon yields larger plants in a shorter amount of growing time. Stolons root wherever they touch soil. Stolon collection can occur whenever rooting stolons can be found. 1) https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/prunella_vulgaris.htm#:~:text=Soil%20requirements%20are%20not%20exacting,moist%20in%20full%2Dsun%20plantings. 2) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/prunella-vulgaris
Seed Stratification Cold-stratify seeds for approximately one month. Seeds can be started in flats, and when the plants are large enough to handle (approximately eight weeks [3]) they can be transplanted into individual pots and grown to the desired size https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/prunella_vulgaris.htm#:~:text=Soil%20requirements%20are%20not%20exacting,moist%20in%20full%2Dsun%20plantings

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason