Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Sally A on July 08, 2007, 22:55

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Sally A on July 08, 2007, 22:55

(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z153/SallyAnnely/P1010024022.jpg)

My garden is covered in this stuff, I have searched the web but no one makes reference to the root system which is pretty unique.  I am guessing it is self heal (prunella vulgaris), but before I start making it into cure-all beverages and poultices I wanted another opinion.

PS. I noted one website is selling it!!!, please, all come and help yourselves.

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: starmoonlilly on July 08, 2007, 22:57

It does look like it Sally A, but do wait for a more confident answer before you use it  :?

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Annie on July 09, 2007, 09:48

Selfheal has a less pointy flower head,it looks like some kind of salvia to me.

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Salkeela on July 09, 2007, 19:28

Or mint?  Looks very like mint my mum grows.... or put another way that grows in her garden!

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Sally A on July 09, 2007, 19:42

Definitely not salvia, and no minty aroma, although very similar in size and look.  I thought the root system might have been recognised by someone.  I'm still in favour of the self heal variety, as next door, during their intrepid plant hunter days, came home with a pot of it from some craft fair, chuffed to bits, only to have my dad and other neighbour laugh their socks off as it's been a problem for 10+ years.
Please keep guessing, before I brew some up and test it on hubby.

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Trillium on July 10, 2007, 03:16

I think what you might have is Hesperis Matronalis, aka Sweet Rocket. Never heard of anyone eating or drinking with it; mostly its a flowering wildflower.

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Bagpuss on July 10, 2007, 07:34

Annie is right. Selfheal has a flatter top and ours is darker mauve.  It looks a bit like french lavender without the bunny ears.

Could it be Vipers Bugloss?

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: Annie on July 10, 2007, 11:01

I think the little flowers are wrong for bugloss or sweet rocket,I am clueless,it`s probably something realy obvious.... :?
It does look like spearmint though,but no smell.

Title: Is this selfheal or some other weed?
Post by: slow_worm on July 10, 2007, 13:14

Self heal or Heal-all is member of the mint family
I think that is what you have.