Horehound has woolly looking stems and leaves, and a musky fragrance that disappears with drying.

This perennial bears many mint family hallmarks, such as square stems and two-lipped flowers, which appear in the plant’s second year. The white blooms, which appear in whorls along the stem in mid- to late summer, are followed by capsules containing four barbed seeds.

Bushy and up to 2 feet (61 cm) tall, horehound is hardy through Zone 4. Growing in poor soil without much extra water, and in sun or partial shade, horehound can take over like neighbors who’ve heard about your new swimming pool.

Plant the seeds with a light covering of soil in spring or fall; thin seedlings to 12 or 18 inches (30 or 46 cm). You can start new plants from division, but more likely, you’ll need to weed out volunteers.

Many herbalists maintain that horehound is an effective expectorant. Buy or make some horehound candy the next time you’re wheezing and hacking, make a tea with its leaves and flowers and put it to the test. You can disguise the bitter flavor with sugar or honey, and possibly some lemon. Don’t consume too much, though, because this herb is also a laxative.

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