Virginia Bugleweed Plant Care
Lycopus virginicus L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Lycopus virginicus is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by many common names, including Virginia water horehound, American water hoarhound, sweet bugleweed, water bugle, carpenter's herb, green archangel, purple archangel, wolf foot, and Egyptian's herb. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Partial shade to full shade
At a glance
How do you care for Virginia Bugleweed?
Plant Virginia Bugleweed in partial shade to full shade.
Where Is the Virginia Bugleweed Native To?
What Is the Virginia Bugleweed?
Virginia Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Lycopus genus. Virginia Bugleweed is native to North America. Virginia Bugleweed is also known as Bugleweed, American Bugleweed.
Virginia Bugleweed displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Virginia Bugleweed produces small white or pink flowers in dense clusters.
What Light Does the Virginia Bugleweed Need?
Virginia Bugleweed thrives in partial shade to full shade. Avoid placing Virginia Bugleweed in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Virginia Bugleweed?
Moist, fertile soil with good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Virginia Bugleweed to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a Virginia Bugleweed?
Choose a spot with partial shade to full shade and moist, fertile soil with good drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a Virginia Bugleweed?
Prune Virginia Bugleweed while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Virginia Bugleweed in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Virginia Bugleweed?
Virginia Bugleweed can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to american water horehound plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Virginia Bugleweed Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Virginia Bugleweed, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Virginia Bugleweed?
Virginia Bugleweed is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Virginia Bugleweed is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Lycopus genus — compare its care with other Lycopus species on PlantoScan.
Lycopus is part of the Lamiaceae plant family — browse all Lamiaceae genera and species.
Virginia Bugleweed copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Lycopus virginicus L., family Lamiaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 21 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Virginia Bugleweed, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Virginia Bugleweed Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species