How to Grow Horehound from Seed (Complete Planting & Care Guide)

Horehound is best known for its strong flavor, which is used in cough drops and old-fashioned candy. This perennial herb is easy to grow in poor soil and can be used for many medicinal purposes. We’ll cover the easy basics of growing horehound from seed so you can add this beneficial herb to your healing garden. 

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a hardy perennial herb traditionally used in cough remedies and herbal teas. Also called white horehound, this herb has sturdy branches with woolly white leaves. 

Horehound can be easily grown from seed, either started indoors or direct sown. You can sow seeds outdoors in the spring, a few weeks before the last frost date.

When starting seeds indoors, use a seed-starting mix and provide sufficient light to prevent leggy seedlings.

Also, remember to harden off seedlings before transplanting them into the garden.

When direct sowing horehound seeds, you will want to thin seedlings to 10 to 12 inches apart.

• Germination Temp 68-75ºF

• Planting depth ¼”

• Days to germination 14-21

• Days to maturity 70-80

Optimal Temperature for Seed Germination 

To keep your horehound plants healthy and happy, it's best to take a more hands-off approach. They don’t require special soil, fertilizer, or large amounts of water. The plants will grow in hot weather and mature in 70 to 80 days.

Horehound is a member of the mint family and will spread. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart. Because it spreads, we grow horehound in containers in our Sow Right Seeds garden. One plant can spread 2 to 3 feet and grow 1 to 3 feet tall.

Horehound does flower, but typically not until its second year. In the first year, you can still harvest and use leaves. After that, you can harvest both leaves and flowers for use.

Cut off flowers before they go to seed if you want to control self-seeding.

Horehound grows best in full sun. This means 6 or more hours of sunlight. It will struggle to grow in shady areas. We have success growing it in a south-facing area.

Once it is established, horehound is drought-tolerant. Only water plants when the soil is drying out. Because of its low water requirements, horehound grows well in water-wise gardens. 

Horehound doesn’t have any specific problems with pests or diseases. The main reason it dies off is because of overwatering and waterlogged soil.

Horehound is also deer and rabbit resistant and most animals will avoid it. 

Horehound leaves can be harvested in the first year. After it starts blooming in the second year, you can also harvest horehound flowers. In the first year, be careful not to take more than ⅓ of the plant at a time. 

Harvest horehound leaves and flowers in the early morning when essential oils are the most potent. Cut stems and leaves at leaf nodes to encourage regrowth.

Horehound flowers and leaves can be harvested for tea or flavoring. This distinct flavor is a common ingredient in cough drops, licorice, and root beer flavoring. 

Fresh horehound leaves are stronger and more bitter than dried. For teas and flavorings, horehound is usually dried and powdered. Dried horehound leaves and flowers can be used in capsules and other remedies. You can dry horehound by tying bundles and hanging them to dry, or use a food dehydrator. 

 Read more about drying herbs. 

Store dry herbs in airtight containers and keep away from direct light and heat.

Horehound has a long medicinal history. If you enjoy searching for historical uses, you’ll find old advertisements for horehound syrups and cough drops dating back at least to the 1800s. There is also historical evidence of its use in Egyptian civilizations.

Horehound was primarily used for lung issues and sore throats. It was a main ingredient in cough drops and was viewed as an expectorant. 

You can still find recipes for horehound cough drops. 

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified medical professional before using herbal remedies for any health condition.

We’re gardeners who love to grow, not medical professionals. We’ll teach you how to plant and grow, and you go from there!

Horehound leaves and flowers have a distinctive taste with hints of mint, menthol, licorice, and root beer. It can have a very strong, bitter taste, so it is often mixed with sweet ingredients.

Horehound easily spreads via runners and self-seeding. To keep horehound contained and from spreading throughout your garden, grow it in a container. 

Container Gardening Tips