Selfheal
A low mint-family plant of damp meadows, woodland edges and lawns with purple summer spikes; a bumblebee favourite that gives honey bees moderate nectar.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.05-0.3 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Selfheal is a low, creeping plant common in Europe, Asia and North America; in Turkey it is found especially in the moist meadows, forest edges and mown lawns of the Black Sea and Marmara regions. Its violet-purple, two-lipped flowers open in short, dense spikes. Because of the depth of the corolla tube its main visitors are bumblebees; honey bees can reach some of the nectar too.
Flowering
It flowers for a long time from June to September. Because it keeps flowering close to the ground even in mown lawns, it provides a small but uninterrupted source throughout the summer.
Honey and pollen
No monofloral honey is known; its nectar ends up in the mixed summer honey of humid regions. Its pollen contribution is small.
Note for the beekeeper
Mowing the lawns around the apiary less often gives low-growing plants such as selfheal, white clover and dandelion a chance to flower. It spreads by itself in moist, lightly shaded places.