Self heal (Prunella grandiflora 'Loveliness')
Prunella grandiflora 'Loveliness' (Self heal) is a mat-forming groundcover with pale purple blooms, thriving in zones 4-8.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’, commonly known as Self heal, is a valuable addition to the garden, prized for its vigorous, sprawling, mat-forming habit that effectively covers the ground. This sprawling perennial quickly establishes itself, offering seasonal color with its distinctive pale lavender flowers atop deep green foliage. It brings both aesthetic appeal and historical interest to mixed plantings.
As a semi-evergreen perennial belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ is reliably winter hardy across a broad range of the temperate zones. It asks for consistently moist conditions throughout the summer to maintain its structural integrity and vigorous growth pattern. This makes it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking reliable coverage with moderate care requirements.
While valued historically for medicinal uses, today gardeners appreciate this Self heal primarily for its functional role as a dynamic groundcover accenting borders, rock gardens, or wilder landscape areas. Its ability to spread by rhizomes ensures quick coverage, though this vigor necessitates mindful placement in the landscape design.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-1 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to August
- Bloom Description: Pale purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Plant Self heal in the spring or fall once the danger of hard frost has passed, ensuring placement in moist yet well-drained soil. Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ thrives best in organically rich soil structures. While it tolerates part shade, achieving the best density and bloom production usually requires a location receiving full sun exposure for at least part of the day.
Maintain consistent moisture, especially during the summer months, as this plant prefers reliably damp conditions to avoid wilting or stress. Fertilization is generally not necessary if the soil is organically rich, as excessive feeding can encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Remember that cultivars like ‘Loveliness’ may not breed true from seed, so propagation by division or cuttings is recommended for maintaining true color.
For gardeners utilizing large groundcover plots of this Self heal, a practical maintenance tip involves mowing the entire area high after the main bloom period concludes in late summer. This action can effectively deadhead spent flowers, promoting a tidier appearance and helping manage its spreading habit.
Landscape Uses
Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ excels in applications where a spreading, low-maintenance groundcover is necessary. Its texture and pale purple blooms make it a wonderful choice for filling in areas at border fronts, nestled between stepping stones, or as an accent in cottage gardens. It also functions excellently as an edger where its low stature won’t obscure taller surrounding plants.
Use this Self heal where you desire a dense mat of color and coverage, such as on banks or slopes where root action helps soil stabilization. Be cautious when planting near delicate rock garden specimens, as the vigorous stoloniferous spread of Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ can sometimes become too aggressive and overcrowd less vigorous neighbors. Consider using it instead in wilder garden sections where its naturalizing tendency is welcomed.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Prunella grandiflora, commonly known as large-flowered self-heal, is a sprawling, low-growing, mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial of the mint family that typically grows to 6-12” tall, but spreads by stolons and rhizomes to 18-36” wide. It is native to meadows and woodlands in Europe, featuring deep green, ovate to lanceolate leaves. Tubular, 2-lipped, purple flowers bloom in summer atop flowering stems rising to 12” tall. The cultivar ‘Loveliness’ is distinguished by its characteristic pale lavender flowers.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
This plant generally experiences few serious insect or disease issues, making it quite robust for garden use. However, under conditions of high humidity or poor air circulation, growers may occasionally observe powdery mildew, leaf spot, or blight. Ensuring adequate spacing between plants and avoiding overhead watering late in the day can help mitigate fungal issues common to many plants in the Lamiaceae family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Self heal suitable for?
Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ is reliably winter hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Self heal grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a height between 0.5 to 1 foot tall, spreading outward to cover an area between 1 and 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ need?
This groundcover performs best when situated in locations that receive full sun to partial shade.
When does Self heal bloom?
You can expect the pale purple flowers of Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ to appear throughout the summer months, generally from June to August.
Conclusion
The Self heal, Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’, offers exceptional value as a low-maintenance, fast-spreading perennial perfect for dense ground cover and softening landscape edges. Its reliable hardiness and attractive late-spring to mid-summer blooms make it a garden workhorse. Before planting, confirm that your conditions match the medium water needs and soil preferences for the best display of this lovely Self heal.
Propagation Tips
Propagating Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ is straightforward, allowing gardeners to multiply successful patches easily. The primary methods are division, taking cuttings, or starting from seed. Division is best performed in spring or fall when the plant is actively growing but not flowering, separating the root masses into smaller, manageable clumps.
If propagating from cuttings, softwood cuttings taken during early summer root readily when placed in moist, sterile media. Be mindful that while seed propagation is possible, cultivars like ‘Loveliness’ do not always maintain true characteristics when grown from seed, meaning flower color may vary unpredictably.
Companion Planting
Due to its requirement for consistent moisture, Self heal pairs well with other moisture-loving, moderate-sized perennials that share similar tolerances for sun exposure. Consider planting Prunella grandiflora ‘Loveliness’ alongside plants such as Astilbe (in shadier spots), Siberian Iris, or Brunnera for a textured, seasonally interesting display.
Because this variety of Self heal spreads via rhizomes, use it near neighbors that can either tolerate its encroaching habit or that are vigorous enough to hold their own. Avoid pairing it with very slow-spreading alpines or delicate woodland plants that could be smothered by its mat-forming growth.
