Prunella vulgaris
Common selfheal
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Prunella vulgaris (Common selfheal) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family.
Common selfheal is a California native perennial found in various habitats across the state's diverse landscapes. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces blue-violet, occasionally pink or white flowers in compact clusters 2 to 6.5 centimeters long. Growing with stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall that are glabrous to short-hairy, it spreads with a low, somewhat sprawling habit. Its leaves are distinctively shaped, with lower leaves having petioles 5 to 30 millimeters long and blade sizes ranging from 2 to 7 centimeters, typically ovate to elliptic with wedge-shaped bases. The flower bracts feature distinctive ciliate margins with reddish edges, adding visual interest to this versatile and widespread plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from other Prunella species, found only in Mariposa, San Bernardino, and Siskiyou counties
Habitat and range
California counties: Mariposa, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Riverside, Del Norte, Mendocino, Sonoma, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Humboldt, Yolo, Modoc, Lake, San Francisco, Lassen, Marin, Butte, Los Angeles, Placer, Fresno, Trinity, Napa, Alpine, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Madera, Tulare, Nevada, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Diego, Calaveras, Alameda, Yuba, Glenn, Amador, Sierra, Mono
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Prunella has dense cylindrical spikes; Salvia has loosely arranged flowers along the stem.; vs Stachys: Prunella flowers are tightly packed into one terminal spike; Stachys flowers are in separated whorls.; vs Ajuga: Prunella forms dense cylindrical spikes; Ajuga has flowers in loose whorls along stem.; vs Mentha: Prunella has one terminal spike; Mentha has multiple rounded clusters stacked up the stem.; vs Penstemon: Prunella has square stems and opposite leaves; Penstemon has round stems and opposite leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prunella vulgaris native to California?
Yes. Prunella vulgaris is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Prunella vulgaris grow?
Prunella vulgaris occurs in Mariposa, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Riverside, Del Norte, Mendocino, Sonoma, Tuolumne and other counties.
What plant family does Prunella vulgaris belong to?
Prunella vulgaris is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Prunella.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.