Leonurus cardiaca
Nomenclature
Latin NameLeonurus cardiaca
Common name in English and GermanMotherwort, Hertzgespan
Regional namesMotherwort (English), Common motherwort (English), Throw-wort (English), Lion's tail (English), Agripaume cardiaque (French), Queue-de-lion (French), Echtes Herzgespann (German), Löwenschwanz (German), Cardiaca (Italian), Agripalma (Spanish), Cola de león (Spanish), Hartgespan (Dutch), Hjertespand (Danish), Løvehale (Norwegian), Hjärtstilla (Swedish), Rohtonukula (Finnish), Veiste-südamerohi (Estonian), Sirds mātere (Latvian), Paprastoji sukatžolė (Lithuanian), Serdecznik pospolity (Polish), Srdečník obecný (Czech), Srdcovník obyčajný (Slovak), Szúrós gyöngyajak (Hungarian), Talpa gâştei (Romanian), Дяволска уста [Dyavolska usta] (Bulgarian), Срдачица [Srdačica] (Serbian/Croatian), Пустырник сердечный [Pustyrnik serdechnyy] (Russian), Собача кропива [Sobacha kropyva] (Ukrainian), Λεωνουρίδα [Leonourída] (Greek), ذنب الأسد [Dhanab al-asad] (Arabic), دم شیر [Dom-e sheer] (Persian), 欧益母草 [Ōuyìmǔcǎo] (Chinese), Aslan kuyruğu (Turkish)
Geographic data
Variety’s range of distributionEurope, Western/Central Asia, naturalized in North America, parts of East Asia and temperate regions worldwide
Crop's center of diversityCentral Asia, Europe
Provenance and collection data
CollectionMedicinal
Seed sourceSpore garden, Wild collection
Cultivation
Life cyclePerennial
Winter hardyYes
Months suitable for planting seedsFebruary, March, April
Seed startingIndoor, Outdoor
Days to harvest70
Growth habitWoody herb
Stem orientationDecumbent, Upright
Plant height (cm)60-120
Sun exposureFull sun, Partial shade
Water RequirementsModerate water demand
Soil preferenceWell drained, Loam, Sandy, Neutral to higher pH
Successional communityPioneering, Patchy shrub-land
Potential use in agro-designAttracts bees, tall border plant, tolerates poor soils, soil reclamation plant.
Reproduction
PollinationCross pollinating
Reproductive biologyBisexual flower
Likelihood of hybridisationLess likely
Use
Consumable partsFlowers, Leaves
Medicinal actionAnti-spasmodic, Cardiac tonic, Emmenagogue, Nervine relaxant
Parts used medicinally and their effectUsed in tea or tincture
Gastronomic useNot usually used bc of bitter flavor