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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The first flowers are heavy in late spring to early summer, depending on your location, with purple bi-color flowers, but continue to flower through September. Plants grow just 6 inches tall and spread over 12 inches wide. The plants are semi-evergreen and in the cool of Spring and Autumn, the leaves are a bright green with purple highlights.

HABITAT & HARDINESS: This is a cultivar and so does not exist in the wild.

PLANT DESCRIPTION: Prunella vulgaris ‘Magdalena,’ commonly known as Self-Heal, is a charming and resilient perennial herb that belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). This cultivar is a selected form of the native Self-Heal and is known for its low-growing habit and spikes of tiny, tubular flowers. ‘Magdalena’ typically reaches a height of 6 to 12 inches, forming spreading mats of lance-shaped leaves. The flowers, which appear in summer, are shades of purple, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Self-Heal has a rich history of traditional medicinal use, with its leaves and flowers often employed in herbal remedies. This herb is well-suited for a variety of garden settings, including herb gardens, meadows, and naturalistic landscapes, where it adds both visual interest and potential herbal benefits.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Prunella vulgaris ‘Magdalena’ is an adaptable and undemanding perennial that thrives in a range of soil types, including well-drained and slightly moist soils. It prefers a location with partial to full sun, though it can tolerate some shade. Once established, Self-Heal is relatively drought-tolerant, making it suitable for water-wise gardens. This cultivar is known for its ability to naturalize and spread, creating a groundcover effect.

Regular deadheading can encourage prolonged blooming and prevent self-seeding, especially in cultivated garden spaces. ‘Magdalena’ is generally resistant to pests and diseases, adding to its ease of maintenance. With its aromatic foliage and unassuming beauty, Self-Heal is a welcome addition to gardens seeking a resilient and beneficial herb.

LANDSCAPE USES: Beneficial Insects; Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cut/Dried Flowers; Deer Resistant Plantings; Meadow/Prairie; Native Plant Garden; Perennial Borders; Pollinator Garden; This cultivar can be included as a ground cover and in rock gardens, pollinator gardens, meadows, containers, cottage gardens, rain gardens, urban settings and erosion control.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS: Try pairing Prunella vulgaris ‘Magdalena’ with Lysmachia lanceolata ‘GroWild Child’; Rudbeckia fulgida v deamii; Carex texensis; Liatris microcephala; Koeleria macrantha; Liatris microcephala; Coreopsis rosea; Callirhoe involucrata are suitable substitutes.

TRIVIA: A 2019 introduction from Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials. Prunella vulgaris was raised as a seedling from open pollinated seed sown from the seed parent, Prunella vulgaris ‘Under the Sea’.