As a popular folk remedy for hundreds of years, horehound was
planted throughout Europe and brought with settlers to North
America, where it quickly became naturalized. It is a typical
herb of cottage gardens, where it is harvested for use in tea
and candy. The genus name 'marrubium' is believed to be derived
from a Hebrew word meaning 'bitter juice'. Marrubium vulgare L.
Botanical Family: Laminaceae Common name: horehound Synonyms:
white horehound, hoarhound, marrubio blanco (Spanish) The Plant:
Horehound originated in Asia and southern Europe but is now
naturalized throughout Europe. The one- to two-foot tall
spreading perennial has woolly stems and wrinkled, oval-shaped
leaves. The leaves are green on the upper side and covered with
dense woolly hairs (tomentose) on the underside, giving them a
white appearance. Small white flowers appear starting in the
second year of growth and are located in densely woolly whorls
on the stem. Horehound has a quite bitter, herbaceous flavor and
is faintly aromatic. An un