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Weed Identification

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science Virginia Cooperative Extension

common selfheal

Family

Lamiaceae

Scientific Name

Prunella vulgaris
Weed photograph 1
Weed photograph 2
Weed photograph 3
Weed photograph 4
Weed photograph 5
Weed photograph 6

Other Common Names:

selfheal
healall

Habit

Healall is a perennial from stolons with square stems and light blue to purple flowers. Healall is primarily a weed of turfgrass and lawns, but is also found along roadsides or occasionally in pastures and hay fields.

Leaves

Healall is arranged oppositely along the stem, oval-shaped in outline. Leaves are approximately 3/4 to 3 1/2 inches in length and 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide. Lower leaves occur on petioles while upper leaves may not. Leaves are usually without hairs or only slightly hairy. All leaves have 'crinkled' upper surfaces.

Identifying Characteristics

Heal-All is edible and medicinal, can be used in salads, soups, stews, or boiled as a pot herb. Used as an alternative medicine for centuries on just about every continent in the world, and for just about every ailment known to man, Heal-All is something of a panacea, it does seem to have some medicinal uses that are constant. The plants most useful constituents are Betulinic-acid, D-Camphor, Delphinidin, Hyperoside, Manganese, Oleanolic-acid, Rosmarinic-acid, Rutin, Ursolic-acid, and Tannins.

Flower Seed Head

Healall's flowers occur in spikes at the ends of erect stems. Many 2-lipped flowers occur in clusters in these spikes at the ends of the erect stems. Individual flowers are are tube-shaped and light blue to purple in color.

Seed Fruit

A brown nutlet contains 1 seed each. Four nutlets occur per flower.

Where Found

Healall is found throughout Europe, Asia, Japan and the US.

Growth Habit

upright and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies: 
pencil, 
dime

Dominant Flower Color

purple

Flower Symmetry

bilateral symmetry

Leaf Hairs

no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies: 
lance, 
oval

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Margin

Varies: 
lobed, 
serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

shorter than leaf

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

taproot

Life Cycle

perennial

Ochrea

present

Plant Type

Herb