Also known as Horehound · 86 saves
Marrubium
Marrubium, the genus most gardeners know as horehound. We track 4 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 3 most-saved Marrubium varieties
Browse all 4 Marrubium varieties →
2 species of Marrubium
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Marrubium in Sow
Save the Marrubium you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Marrubium
Whats common across all Marrubium varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 4 most-grown of them.
The Marrubium year
- PlantApril and May75% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall in very well-drained, poor soil.
- PruneAugust75% of varieties
Cut stems back hard to the basal crown to encourage fresh, compact growth.
- HarvestJune and July50% of varieties
Harvest leaves and flowering tops just before peak bloom for medicinal use.
- DeadheadJuly and August50% of varieties
Shear spent flower spikes to maintain a tidy mound shape.
- PropagateApril50% of varieties
Take softwood cuttings in spring or divide clumps every few years.
- DivideApril50% of varieties
Divide clumps in spring or fall to propagate or control spread.
Do
- Water sparingly once established 💧
- Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape
- Apply organic mulch annually 🌱
- Use organic pest control if needed
- Grow in poor, dry, or degraded soils to maintain a compact, aromatic habit.
Avoid
- Overwater or allow to sit in soggy soil ❌
- Use chemical pesticides indiscriminately
- Neglect pruning, which can lead to legginess
- Do not plant in rich, heavily irrigated garden beds, which causes root rot and weak growth.
What goes wrong with Marrubium
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Root rot | Wilting and yellowing leaves | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on the stems and stippled, yellowing foliage during hot, dry weather. | Increase air circulation and spray the foliage with water to disrupt breeding cycles. |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing on leaves | Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap |
| Powdery mildew | White powder on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide |
| Root rot | Wilting, yellowing leaves and decaying stems, particularly in wet or poorly drained soils. | Improve soil drainage, reduce watering, and remove severely infected plants. |
| Root Rot | Wilting and browning roots | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
Making more Marrubium
Seeds
- Tuck seeds into moist soil in early spring.
- Keep soil consistently moist for 2 weeks.
- Germination occurs in 2-3 weeks.
Cuttings
- Take 4-inch cuttings in late spring.
- Dip in rooting hormone and plant in moist soil.
- Keep humid for 6 weeks until roots develop.
Marrubium questions
How many types of Marrubium are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 4 distinct Marrubium varieties. The most popular — ranked by 86 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Marrubium grow in?
Across its varieties, Marrubium covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Marrubium bloom?
Most Marrubium varieties bloom in early summer, mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Marrubium should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.