How to Grow and Care for Horehounds

Black horehound, or Ballota nigra, is a perennial herb with a musty or moldy fragrance. The genus name, "ballota," is related to the Greek word meaning “to reject,” and is related to the plant’s offensive odor.

False dittany is often cultivated as a garden plant and it's well-known as an extremely drought-tolerant species. False dittany forms an attractive evergreen shrub, with velvety, silvery-green leaves, quite soft to the touch and very aromatic.

It is a compact, evergreen subshrub growing to 0.5 metres. Upright woolly grey shoots turn to rounded grey-green leaves, bearing whorls of small pink flowers with funnel-shaped green calyces in late summer and autumn. It is tolerant of poor soil and drought, and often used in cultivation as groundcover.

Ballota hirsuta is a plant of the family Lamiaceae, native to the western Mediterranean region, mostly abundant in Spain and Portugal. It is also native to North Africa.

Cat-herb is a hardy, perennial herb indigenous to South Africa's rocky landscapes. It typically features a dense, rounded form with woolly, heart-shaped leaves and a subtle aromatic scent. The purple to mauve flowers are small yet noticeable, often attracting pollinators. Cat-herb's adaptability allows it to thrive in dry, challenging conditions, showcasing its resilience and ecological niche.