Marsh Woundwort

Description

Marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris) is a herbaceous perennial native to the UK, commonly found growing in marshes, damp meadows, ditches, riverbanks, and other wet grassland habitats. This aromatic plant belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is also known as marsh hedge-nettle or hedge-nettle.

The plant has a long history of traditional use, and parts of it were once eaten when properly prepared. It is a valuable wildflower for wildlife, particularly pollinating insects. Used in herbal medicine as an antiseptic and antispasmodic since the sixteenth century, the leaves were also applied to help healing wounds.

Hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica) is similar in stature and overall form but has darker purple flowers and stalked leaves, whereas all leaves of marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris), except the basal ones, are unstalked.

How to Identify

Marsh woundwort has upright, square stems typical of the mint family, often slightly hairy, with opposite pairs of narrow, toothed leaves. From mid to late summer, it produces whorls of pink to purple, hooded flowers that sit around the upper leaf joints. The plant can grow to around 1 metre tall and spreads gradually via creeping underground rhizomes.

How to Grow

Marsh woundwort grows best in full sun or partial shade in consistently wet to moist soil. It is well-suited to pond margins, damp meadows, wildlife gardens, and naturalistic planting schemes. Once established, it is low-maintenance and will slowly spread to form natural colonies, making it ideal for wet areas where other plants may struggle.