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Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

General: Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a non-native shrub introduced into this country from Europe. It is now widespread, but it isn't terribly invasive, and the weed can be controlled by digging up the shallow roots.

The shrub grows upright to spreading with round, crinkly leaves. The flowers are in ball-like clusters in the leaf axils, and when dried, persist on the plant. The stems are square in cross-section.

Horehound is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained sandy and gravelly areas on desert flats, bajadas, and moderate slopes in the lower mountains in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. Look for this plant in disturbed areas such as around cattle operations and parking areas.

Family: Mint (Lamiaceae).

Other Names: White Horehound

Plant Form: Upright, spreading shrub.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Roundish, crinkly leaves.

Height: To about 2 feet.

Stems: Upright, spreading, square.

Leaves: Roundish with toothed edge, crinkly texture, hairy.

Flowers: Inflorescence axillary. Flowers in clusters. Corolla white, two lipped, upper lip two lobed, lower lip three lobed.

Seeds: Nutlet.

Habitat: Disturbed and overgrazed sites desert flats, canyons, and lower desert mountains.

Elevation: To about 2,000 feet.

Distribution: Worldwide, but desert mountains around Las Vegas.

Comments: This is a weed species that should be removed when found. Dig it up and bag the plant to prevent spreading the seeds.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Several Horehound with other shrubs
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound with lanky flowering stalks in the spring
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound is often a small, compact shrub
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound is often a small, compact shrub
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound with lanky flowering stalks in the fall
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound with dried flowering stalks in the fall
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Roundish, crinkly leaf with hairs
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Roundish, crinkly leaf with hairs
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Flower clusters in leaf axils.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Flowers white, lobed, and growing in clusters
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Flowers lobed: upper lip two-lobed, lower lip three-lobed
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Flower clusters in ball-like ornaments along the stem
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Dried flower clusters persist with green leaves
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Dried flower clusters persist on dried plant

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220814

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