Organically grown at KoruKai Herb Farm, New Zealand, without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or other agrochemicals.
Motherwort is a robust perennial herb of the mint family, traditionally treasured for its calming, strengthening, and protective qualities. Its botanical name, cardiaca, reflects its long association with supporting the heart, while its common name speaks to its deep connection with women’s health and emotional wellbeing.
With its tall upright stems, deeply cut leaves, and clusters of soft pink to purple flowers, Motherwort brings beauty and vitality to the herb garden. It flowers abundantly through summer and is highly attractive to bees, making it an excellent pollinator plant as well as a valuable medicinal herb.
Medicinal Uses*
Motherwort has a long history of use as a calming nervine and heart tonic. It is especially valued for easing nervous tension, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm, helping to settle the mind while strengthening the heart. Traditionally, it has been used for stress-related heart palpitations, mild high blood pressure, and feelings of restlessness or agitation.
As its name suggests, Motherwort has also been widely used to support women’s reproductive health. It is often used to help regulate menstrual cycles, ease menstrual cramps, and support emotional balance during times of hormonal change. Traditionally, it has also been used during the postpartum period to support recovery and emotional wellbeing.
Motherwort is considered both grounding and strengthening, particularly during times of stress, grief, and exhaustion.
Growing Instructions
Motherwort is an easy and vigorous perennial that grows well in full sun to partial shade. It prefers fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture but is adaptable to a range of conditions once established. When your dormant plant arrives, pot it into a medium-sized container and keep it well watered for the first 1–2 weeks. Transplant into the garden in spring or autumn, spacing plants around 40–50 cm apart. Motherwort grows quickly and can reach 1–1.5 metres tall in good conditions. It self-seeds readily if left unchecked, so remove spent flowers if you wish to control its spread. Mulch well after planting to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
It dies back in winter and returns strongly in spring. Cut back old stems in late autumn or winter and apply compost around the base to support vigorous regrowth. Motherwort is frost hardy and well suited to many parts of New Zealand.
Harvesting
Harvest Motherwort when the plant is in flower, usually in mid to late summer, as this is when the medicinal constituents are strongest. The aerial parts - leaves, stems, and flowers - are all used. Using secateurs, cut the top third to half of the flowering stems, leaving enough growth for the plant to continue regenerating. Harvest on a dry day once the morning dew has lifted. With good growing conditions, Motherwort can often provide multiple harvests in one season.
Processing and Drying
Motherwort dries well when handled carefully. Bundle the stems loosely or spread them in a single layer on drying racks in a warm, shaded, and well-ventilated place. Avoid direct sunlight to preserve its colour and medicinal qualities. Dry at temperatures below 35°C until the leaves are crisp and the stems snap cleanly. Once dry, strip the leaves and flowers from the stems and store in airtight containers away from light and heat.
Herbal Preparations*
Motherwort is commonly prepared as a tea, tincture, or herbal extract. Due to its strong bitter flavour, it is often preferred as a tincture or blended with more pleasant-tasting herbs in tea formulas. It combines well with other calming and heart-supportive herbs and is often used in formulas for stress, anxiety, menstrual support, and emotional resilience. Fresh Motherwort is especially prized for tincture making, as many herbalists find it more potent than the dried herb.
*This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
