European water-horehound

Lycopus europaeus

The European water-horehound is a green plant that grows near water. It has small, pretty flowers and is loved by bees and butterflies!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The European water-horehound has upright, square stems and pairs of deeply toothed, dark green leaves. Its tiny, white or pale purple flowers grow in dense whorls around the stem joints, often with reddish-purple spots. This plant stands out with its clustered flowers directly on the stem, unlike many mint relatives.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyLamiaceaeGenusLycopus

European water-horehound

Interesting facts

Ancient healers once used this plant for its calming properties and as a dye!

It's a wild cousin of mint, but don't try chewing its bitter leaves!

Its scientific name, Lycopus, means 'wolf's foot' because of its jagged leaves!

You can sometimes spot its tiny flowers blooming even into late autumn!

Special abilities

European water-horehound can spread quickly using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it colonize new wet areas.

This plant can thrive in very wet or even submerged soils, allowing it to grow where many other plants struggle.

Its tiny seeds are designed to float, allowing them to travel far on water currents to find new places to grow.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-100 cm
Flower Size: 0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

gathers nectar and pollen from flowers

pollinates

Marmalade hoverfly

Episyrphus balteatus

feeds on nectar, aiding flower reproduction

shelters

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

finds cover and nesting sites in dense growth

Traits

Aromatic

Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.