Woundwort, Marsh

Information on Marsh Woundwort

Common Name: Marsh Woundwort
Scientific Name: Stachys palustris
Irish Name: Cabhsadán
Family Group: Lamiaceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Marsh Woundwort could sometimes be confused with:

Woundwort, Hedge,

This plant mainly differs from Hedge Woundwort in its colouring and also in that is has only a very faint aroma. The beautiful, individual flowers are pale pinkish purple or mauve, and are slightly smaller (12-15mm) than its cousin.  It is an elegant, robust and erect plant with oblong, short-stalked or unstalked leaves.  It flowers from June to September, attracting bees into its tube shaped corolla.  Mainly found in the vicinity of damp arable land, its fruits are nutlets.  This is a native plant and belongs to the family Lamiaceae. 

This plant was first identified by me in Gibletstown, Co Wexford in 2006 and was photographed at that time. 

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

Used in herbal medicine as a antiseptic and antispasmodic since the sixteenth century, the leaves were also used to help staunch bleeding and healing wounds.

Woundwort, Marsh
Woundwort, Marsh
Woundwort, Marsh
Woundwort, Marsh