Motherwort: planting, use & effect of the medicinal plant
Motherwort, also known as lion’s tail, is a native medicinal plant that has been used for centuries to treat heart conditions. We give tips on how to cultivate, nurture and harvest motherwort.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) has been a tried-and-tested medicinal plant for mild heart problems since ancient times. We present a portrait of the medicinal plant and explain how to cultivate, harvest and the effects of Leonurus cardiaca.
Contents
Motherwort: origin and properties
Also known as throw-wort, lion’s ear and lion’s tail, motherwort is native to Central Europe, Scandinavia and Western Asia. It became naturalised in North America at a later date and is found there running wild in meadows and along forest edges. In Germany, the wild population has shrunk considerably and is therefore classified as endangered. Motherwort belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is related to numerous herbs and medicinal plants, such as hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Indian nettle (Monarda), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and sage (Salvia).
This hardy perennial reaches a height of 30 to 100 cm. These bushy plants can grow to a width of 40 to 50 cm. The palmate, deeply incised, dark green leaves sit opposite one another on the strongly upright, square stems. In the upper tiers of the stems, numerous small flower buds form as whorls in the leaf axils in spring. The small, pale pink to purple lipped flowers offer plenty of nectar and also medium amounts of pollen during the motherwort flowering period between June and September. Bumblebees in particular, but also numerous other pollinating insects, visit the motherwort flower during late summer when food is scarce. Motherwort is therefore considered a particularly insect-friendly flowering perennial. After pollination, each flower produces four small, brown seeds known as nutlets. Motherwort can self-seed vigorously in suitable locations.
Planting motherwort: location and method
The ideal habitat for motherwort is in loose, humus-rich, sandy-loamy to slightly clayey and fresh soil in sun to partial shade. A permeable, water-retaining and nutrient-rich potting soil such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is suitable for improving heavy or poor soils and for planting in containers. The peat-free substrate, which is sustainably produced in Germany, stores moisture thanks to its high compost content and releases it back to the plant roots when needed.
- Perfect for all your house, garden & balcony plants
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Motherwort can be purchased as a perennial in nurseries or grown from seed. Sow outdoors from April to the end of May. The seeds of the light germinator should only be sparsely covered with soil and always receive enough water until germination. The optimal germination temperature is between 12 and 18 °C. Later the plants can be separated and transplanted. The ideal planting time for perennials is in late autumn from October or in early spring from March.
For planting, first prepare the site, remove any unwanted weeds and loosely turn over the soil. Poor soil can be improved at this point by adding a little mature compost. Next, dig a generous planting hole and insert the perennial no deeper than it previously sat in its pot or container. The distance between motherwort plants and other plants should be about 60 cm. Finally, fill with substrate, press the soil down around the plant and then water vigorously.
The right care
Motherwort is considered a robust and low-maintenance wild perennial. However, watering may be necessary in the period after planting and during particularly dry summers. Fertilisation is carried out once a year in spring when the leaves are in bud. Applying a mature compost or predominantly organic slow-release fertiliser, such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food, enhances soil life and humus build-up. The nutrients contained in our animal-free fertiliser granules are released slowly and evenly when worked into the surface. This effectively prevents leaching and overfertilisation.
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After flowering from September onwards, motherwort should be cut back to a hand’s width above the ground. The perennial dies above ground towards the end of the year anyway. Pruning back the stems facilitates new shoots the following spring and also prevents unwanted self-seeding in the garden. Motherwort is hardy down to -40 °C and therefore does not need any winter protection.
Harvesting, use and effect of motherwort
During the flowering period, the parts parts of the plant above ground are collected and used fresh or gently dried for long-term storage. When harvesting, whole shoots or individual leaves can be collected. Leaves and flowers are equally suitable.
Is motherwort poisonous? Motherwort is basically non-toxic and there are no known side effects when used properly. In extremely high doses, nausea and vomiting can theoretically occur but these amounts are barely achievable. There are also no reports of poisoning in pets that eat motherwort plants.
Motherwort slightly decreases blood pressure and heart rate and has a calming effect on nervous heart conditions such as cardiac neurosis. It can be taken concomitantly with hyperthyroidism and blood pressure fluctuations as well as angina pectoris. To make motherwort tea, pour a cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of dried herbs and let it steep for 10 minutes. The recommended daily dose is 4.5 g of dried herbs or two cups daily. Motherwort herbs can be used as a heart treatment over a longer period of eight to ten weeks without any problems. The related Chinese motherwort (Leonurus japonicus) is used in traditional Chinese medicine for gynaecological disorders and kidney inflammations. Here, the fruits of the plant are used as well as the herb. However, Chinese motherwort should not be used during pregnancy.
The fruits, flowers and leaves of hawthorn (Crataegus) are also used for heart conditions. We introduce you to this diverse plant genus and give tips on choosing a site, planting and care.
