Motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca ) is a favorite medicinal herbaceous plant that grows wild near streams or river from southern Canada to the east of the Rocky Mountains . It ’s has a reputation as a rapidly spread weed because it can spring up basically anywhere , whether in a fail garden or cryptical in the woods . Motherwort grows waste along riverbanks , field of study , meadows , and more , so it ’s no surprise that it ’s bonk as an encroaching plant .
Do n’t let that put you off of growing Leonurus cardiaca . Handled properly , it can be a powerful summation to the garden and your medicine storage locker .
Historically , motherwort has been used medicinally for menstruation challenges , along with nervous and anxiousness issue . There ’s also evidence it can help with alcoholism and change of life . It ’s called motherwort because it was traditionally used during the postpartum workweek . But even if you are n’t interested in its medicinal properties , gardeners plant Leonurus cardiaca because it attracts all sorts of bee and pollinators to your garden . you may also eat motherwort .
How to Grow Motherwort
Motherwort is a sturdy , stemmed perennial that grow up to 5 foundation improbable with pink or purple clustered peak . The flowers have 6 - 15 axils and appear from July to September . The lower leaves of the plant have 5 fissure lobes with coarse tooth . As you go up the stem , the leaves have 3 cleft lobe , while the upper foliage are oblong with a twosome of coarse teeth .
Growing Zones
Motherwort is a repeated herb that grow in USDA hardiness zones 4 - 8 .
Stratify Seeds
In guild to start develop Leonurus cardiaca , the seeds to be stratified for several weeks before they will stock . Some gardener sow seeds outside in the garden in later fall , allow winter to do the stratification for them .
you could also manually stratify semen . To do that , you need to give seminal fluid a period of cold treatment for a few week . This fox the seeds into thinking they ’ve been through a time period of wintertime , and it ’s time to produce now that its spring .
How to Stratify Seeds
develop motherwort germ require cold social stratification . The trick to stratification indoors is that you need to mimic the exact conditions a seed experiences in nature , and your kitchen is n’t nature .
To make this happen , soak the seeds for 12 - 24 hours , then put them in a plastic cup of tea with adequate amounts of sand and peat . Seal that bag and put it in the refrigerator for 10 twenty-four hour period . Keep the sand and peat mixture moist , so check often .
Seeds may need up to a month to sprout , but if any do sprout while in the bag , be sure to found them immediately . After a month , works seeds in soil .
Starting Motherwort Seeds
Gardeners can either start out the germ alfresco in the garden or inside for transplanting . If you desire to set out the seed inside , set them a few weeks before the final hoar particular date in your area .
no matter of which you choose , place stratify seeds 1/8 - in late in inclined ground . You do n’t require to cover the seeds with too much stain , or they wo n’t spud and sprout .
Germinating Seeds
Make trusted to keep the grease moist throughout sprouting . Expect germination to take a calendar week when the soil temperature are around 65 - 75 ℉ . Once they ’ve sprouted , fragile plant life to 2 - 3 feet apart .
Picking the Right Area
Motherwort is part of themintfamily , and like quite a little , it grows nearly anywhere . That can be incontrovertible or negative . One thing to consider is that motherwort love to self - seed . You want to pick a post that you do n’t mind some extra plant toss off up the next twelvemonth , or a touch where you could keep it contained . Many people prefer to grow motherwort in pot to keep the plant life coraled .
Sun Requirements
One of the best things about Leonurus cardiaca is it ’s such a exonerative plant . Motherwort can grow in sunny or densely shady areas or anything in between .
The Right Conditions for Motherwort
turn motherwort can happen in all variety of grease conditions . It does best in moist , plentiful soils . The soil should be lightsome and well - run out with a pH level of 7.7 . That said , it can also manage in less - than - ideal conditions .
It ’s salutary to lie down compost in the orbit where you desire to plant the Leonurus cardiaca . Compostwill add nutrients to your earth and avail to increase drainage . If your soil is especially clay - like , try adding some moxie to help with drainage . Sand adds air circulation .
Transplanting
If you started your come inside , or if you purchased fledgling , put plants into your prepared garden beds after the danger of frost passes . The seedlings should be 4 - 6 inch improbable before transplanting and leave behind at least 1 foot between plant life .
cull your perfect spot and dig a hole twice the width of your root word ball . Take out your seedling and go around the roots out gently . Place in the hole , cover it with dirt , and water deeply to place the plant in place properly .
How to Care for Motherwort
Growing motherwort is easy once you get the seed spud . Since it grow wild in most domain , you could plant and let it go , but that wo n’t guarantee you ’ll have the best results .
Watering
After you found the motherwort in your garden , water the plants every 2 - 3 days until they maturate larger . Once the plant is ripe , it can withstand drier conditions . After established , Leonurus cardiaca is drouth kind , but for the most potent industrial plant , keep it well water .
Fertilizing
Motherwort ’s easy - go nature means that you do n’t have to fecundate the plant unless you need to . For full results , utilise a 10 - 10 - 10 general fertilizer to assure the soil has all the proper nutrients call for for respectable growth .
Trimming
Motherwort grow long stem on which the flowers bloom . Trim back the flowering tops to kibosh the plants from ego - seeding all over your garden . If you want to use the plant life for medicinal determination , harvest home should take place when the industrial plant is flower .
Division of Plants
Motherwort grow quickly , which means you’re able to dig them up and circularize them around if you need . watershed plants in spring or fall when plants are dormant and temperatures are n’t too cold .
Problems With Growing Motherwort
Motherwort does n’t have any issue with pests or diseases .
How to Harvest and Store Motherwort
Harvesting Leonurus cardiaca is fairly easy because the total herbaceous plant can be harvested after flowering . The dried plant is made into tinctures or teas that can be used for menopausal symptoms , painful periods , and flatulency . It also shows promise as a remediation for heart palpitations and high stemma pressure level .
Harvest leaves when the plant life is in full bloom or just after . This is the good time to pile up because inquiry shows that the active ingredients of the plant are highest at this clock time . nip off to the radix of the plant when its in full salad days . Leonurus cardiaca flowers as early as June and will continue to flower until it frosts .
Be aware that the volute have thorns on them , so use gardening gloves and a pair of pruner .
Use fresh or dried heyday in soup like lentil or rive pea plant . impudent motherwort can be used as a flavoring for beer , and to make teas .
To hive away your motherwort , attend it to dry in an airy , dreary office or expend a dehydrator to dry it out faster . Once dry out , store the motherwort in an airtight container like a glass jar .
Once dry out , you could practice the herb to make tinctures by steeping the dried herbs in high proof vodka . Make a tea with the farewell , letting them steep in spicy water for 10 to 15 minutes .
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