Kick up your heels with Silverheels horehound!
Silverheels horehound is an extremely versatile and low maintenance groundcover that looks absolutely gorgeous in all seasons. It forms mats that can be 2 feet across and only about 6 inches in height. The medium green foliage is haloed in silver, proving that even great plants have a silver lining. The undersides of the leaves also can be silver to white making a striking texture for the dry loving border. Silverheels thrives in well-drained dry soils and soaks up as much sun as you can give it. It is native to south facing slopes in the dry mountains of Turkey where it gets extremely cold and windswept. Flowers are really not much to speak of and may be sheared off to keep the mat looking at its best.
Marrubium is a member of the mint family. The foliage is wooly and soft to the touch. This plant makes for some great combination plantings with dry land shrubs and bulbs. One of the most stunning combinations for a contrast in feel and appearance is to have it grow as a “skirt” underneath the large cholla plants native to southern Colorado. This evergreen plant makes a remarkable difference to the winter landscape with its blanket of growth. Silverheels horehound is a great solution to those dry and neglected portions of the garden as well as a centerpiece when planted in even the choicest locations in the garden.
View the plant profile here.
Height: folilage is 2-4″, 8-10″ when in bloom
Width: 24-36”
Blooms: May
Sun: Full sun
Soil Moisture: Moderate to dry
Hardiness: USDA zones 4-9
Culture: Clay, loam, or sandy soil
Thanks to Mike Bone, Denver Botanic Gardens, for writing this piece.
I’m interested in getting this for SE Alberta. How can I get it in Canada?
Did you try some of our online retailers? I know several of them can ship into Canada. http://plantselect.org/where-to-buy/online-retailers/
Hi Susan,
Did you ever manage to find Silver Heels Horehound? I have it up here in Edmonton. Found it in Canadian Tire in Leduc 5 years ago. If you were closer I could give you a bit!
Iren
Any advice on dividing this? Mine is 4 feet wide! (Probably getting more water than it needs).
Hi Jane,
Did you have success dividing your horehound plant? I just divided my 3 ft wide one into eight sections and I believe they are all successes! Used a spade shovel. Such a low maintenance, dependable, beautiful plant!
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada