Grow Horehound for silvery-green, textured foliage and small white flowers. This hardy perennial herb has a distinctly bitter flavor and a history of use in herbal teas and old-fashioned candies. It is not spearmint and should not be described as a sweet, cooling garnish.

Germination Rate: 93%. Test Date: 6/26. TLM.

Texas minimum germination standard: None.

Culinary Uses

• Herbal infusions: Harvested leaves can be steeped and strained for a bitter herbal beverage.
• Traditional candies: Horehound has traditionally flavored old-fashioned sweets. Use a reliable candy recipe and take care when handling hot sugar.
• Harvest preparation: Wash harvested leaves and roughly chop them before infusing. These uses refer to harvested foliage, not planting seeds.

Medicinal Uses

Horehound has a history of traditional herbal use. This information is educational only, not evidence of effectiveness or advice to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent a condition. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using herbal preparations, especially during pregnancy, while nursing, when taking medication or when managing a health condition.

Growing Directions

• Location: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
• Sowing: Sow shallowly in a seed-starting mix and keep evenly moist, not waterlogged, during germination.
• Transplanting: Harden off indoor seedlings gradually before planting outdoors after frost danger passes.
• Watering: Water while young plants establish, then avoid persistently wet soil.
• Care: Allow room for branching and airflow. Trim as needed and remove spent flowers if unwanted self-seeding is a concern.
• Harvest: Snip healthy leaves from established plants without removing all their foliage. Verify plant identity before using any harvested herb.

Order Horehound Herb Seeds Today

Add distinctive silvery-green foliage and a traditional bitter herb to your garden.

Important Disclaimer

This packet contains seeds for planting, not food. Growing results vary with climate, soil and care. Store unused seeds sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. Use local frost dates to plan planting. Herbal preparations are not suitable for everyone; seek professional guidance before consumption and do not offer them to children without appropriate advice.

Simple Horehound Herbal Tea

A small, strained infusion showcases horehound's bitter flavor. This recipe uses correctly identified harvested horehound leaves, not seeds from the packet, and is not a medicinal treatment.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon washed, roughly chopped fresh horehound leaves
• 1 cup freshly boiled water
• Sugar and a squeeze of lemon, optional, to taste

Directions

1. Wash the harvested leaves under running water and roughly chop them on a clean cutting board.
2. Place the leaves in a heatproof cup or tea infuser. Pour the hot water over them carefully.
3. Steep for 3–5 minutes, then strain thoroughly and discard the leaves.
4. Sweeten lightly or add lemon if desired. Allow to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature.

Serving and safety: Horehound is bitter, not a substitute for sweet mint. Prepare fresh rather than storing the infusion, and follow the herbal-use precautions above.

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