Horehound
Scientific Name:
Marrubium vulgare
Type:
Herbaceous Plant
Habitat:
Lowland grasslands, sandy soils, and other open areas
Range:
Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, Australia, and North America
Status:
Near Threatened (IUCN Red List)
This species is
INVASIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Horehound is a perennial herb. They grow up to 1 feet 8 inches tall. Horehound is a hermaphroditic plant, meaning each individual has both male and female organs. These plants have green leaves that grow next to small, white flowers.
Fast Facts:
Horehound is native to Europe, wetsern Asia, and northern Africa. It has since been introduced to Australia and North America where it is considered an invasive weed.
Horehound is a hardy plant, able to naturalize in hard-to-live areas.
Horehound is decreasing in population across its native range, particularly in central Europe. This is due to changes in land management, especially in regards to cattle grazing.
Sources:
Invasive Plant Atlas, White Horehound, 2018, https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=5997
Plants For A Future, Marrubium Vulgare, 2021, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Marrubium+vulgare
IUCN Red List, White Horehound, 2013, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203247/2762568
Image: Harry Rose, https://www.flickr.com/photos/macleaygrassman/14659339433, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Bridget Mulkerin (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)