SafePlants

Black Horehound (Ballota nigra)

Black Horehound, also known as Black Stinking Horehound, Stinking Roger, or Fetid Hoarhound, is a perennial herb with a distinctive aroma.

Considerations for Pets

• Black Horehound is known as "Black Stinking Horehound," indicating a strong odor that may be unpleasant to some animals.

Considerations for Children

• Black Horehound is known as "Black Stinking Horehound," indicating a strong odor that may be unpleasant to some children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Ballota nigra
• Common Names: Black Horehound, Black Stinking Horehound, Stinking Roger, Fetid Hoarhound, Black Archangel, Black Stinking Horehound, Marrubium nigrum, Black Ballotta
• Family: Lamiaceae (also known as Labiatae or Mint family)
• Synonyms: Marrubium nigrum

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the Mediterranean region and central Asia.
• Naturalized in scattered locations in North America.
• Found in Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa.
• Grows in hedgerows, roadside verges, waste grounds, open areas, pavement cracks, by roadsides, and woods.

Ecological Role

• Considered a weed in Europe, thriving in open areas and near human habitation.

Morphological Characteristics

• Perennial herb, typically growing to a height of 30-100 cm (approximately 1-3 feet).
• Stems are often straggling, almost hairless, and four-edged.
• Leaves are ovate, arranged oppositely on leaf-stalks, with dented edges. They are dark green on top and paler underneath, with a netted vein pattern.
• Flowers are pink to purple, with two lips, and are 12 to 14 mm in size. They grow in dense whorls along the leafy stem.
• Calyx is funnel-shaped.
• Green parts often turn a dirty purplish-black, hence the common name.

Traditional Uses

• Historically used for heavy periods.

Quirky Facts

• It's the "smelly relative" of white horehound and has a "fetid odor".
• The plant's green parts can turn a dirty purplish-black, which contributes to its common name.