Seasonal Wild Flowers

Hedge Woundwort

Stachys sylvatica

Lamiaceae

June to October

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Hedge Woundwort

It grows in slight shade in woods, rough grassland,

waste areas and hedgerows, and by streams and rivers.

Hedge Woundwort is a native, hairy, slightly pungent,

rhizomatous, perennial herb, growing up to 1m.

Flowers are in groups of 6 in whorls, tapering to a spike.

Each flower is up to 15mm, dark pinkish-purple with

distinct white ‘skeleton’ markings on the petals.

It is protandrous (4 stamens) and pollinated by bees.

The sepals form spiny lobes and the bracteoles are linear.

All are glandular and hairy.

Leaves are elongated heart shapes.

Stems are square and hairy.

It spreads by rhizomatous growth, seed and rhizome

fragments.

So much so, it can be a weed in gardens

Previous page: Hedge Bindweed
Next page: Hemlock

Hedge Woundwort by a track

Flower spike

Close-up of flower whorl - petal markings

Tipped up to show stamens

Top of flower spike

Immature and mature seeds

Leaves