Leonurus cardiaca aka Common Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca, commonly known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Central Asia and southeastern Europe but has spread worldwide due to its use as a herbal remedy. This deciduous wildflower has deeply-lobed palmate green foliage and produces whorls of purple-pink to white flowers with purple-spotted lips on a central stem during the summer. It is known for its historical use in medicine for heart-related issues and serves as a great source of nectar for pollinating insects. The plant has opposite, palmate leaves with 3 or 5 sharply-pointed lobes and conspicuous veins. Its tubular pink or purple flowers are hairy and surrounded by a green calyx with lanceolate teeth. The plant contains reddish-brown or brown 3-sided nutlets. Motherwort is found in disturbed woodlands, woodland paths, woodland borders, thickets, degraded wetlands, yards underneath trees, and partially shaded fence rows. It forms colonies through spreading rhizomes and can be controlled by cutting back the foliage after flowering to prevent self-seeding. Overall, motherwort is a useful and hardy plant that is resistant to pests and diseases.