Fauna
Plant

Common Motherwort

Leonurus cardiaca

Also known as Motherwort, Throw-wort, Lion's Ear, Lion's Tail

Common motherwort stands out in waste grounds and hedgerows with its stiff, square stems and palmately lobed leaves that gradually narrow toward the upper flowering spikes. Dense whorls of small, fuzzy, pink-to-lilac blossoms emerge from prickly calyxes from midsummer into autumn, attracting a relentless stream of bumblebees. Long cultivated as a traditional garden herb, it readily self-seeds and thrives across disturbed soils throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere.

HerbaceousPerennialPollinator Friendly
Common Motherwort reference1 / 7
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Aphids
  • Spittlebugs
  • Garden slugs
ThreatsHerbicidal spraying, intensive mowing, and severe ground compaction
HabitatsDisturbed ground, roadsides, hedgerows, riverbanks, and woodland borders
Life spanPerennial (typically 3–8 years)
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyLamiaceae
  3. GenusLeonurus
  4. SpeciesLeonurus cardiaca
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Look closely into the leaf axils to examine the fuzzy, hooded upper petals.
  • Physical Awareness: Wear garden gloves in late autumn, as the dried seed calyxes become quite sharp and prickly.
  • Pollinator Watching: Visit flowering stands on warm afternoons to spot diverse bumblebees and solitary bees feeding.
Related species
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