I had an old aunt who loved Horehound candy. We used to buy it at Maison Blanche in New Orleans and have them send it to her in New Mexico! I hadn't thought about horehound candy in years! I think I'll have to try to find the herb this spring. Would be fun to have it in a little memory garden.

I want to grow this plant and make this candy again!

I'm going to try germinating seeds for it again this year. This is year three, I think. Persistence, right?

Doesn't it grow well for you, Chelle? It's like mint, once growing you can't stop it. I think sometimes it's best to just ignore it, but keep it potted. Otherwise it's non stop everywhere.

Although I did lose my lemon mint by saying the exact same thing a few years ago.
And come to think of it, I haven't seen the horehound since last summer's drought

Maybe I should keep quiet, but I do love horehound candy. Good thing they still have it at Cracker Barrel.

I haven't yet been successful in germinating any seed, Sharon.

I have fresh seed on the way however, so maybe this time I'll get it going.

I want to make the candy with my son; while he's still young enough to appreciate the process. I was just a few years older than he is now when my next door neighbor allowed me to help make a batch. It was interesting, and fun!

I haven't made it in years.

I'm going to watch for mine and if it doesn't appear then I'll be on a search, but for the plant, I think. Maybe.

Luck with yours.

My experience growing horehound from seed was a long process. I planted the seeds more than once before they actually germinated, and then they sprouted at least six months after sowing. Unfortunately, I didn't keep good enough records to know the details but, I know I had planted over the horehound with some other seeds before the horehound showed up!

It's been growing for about three years now, just the one plant in part shade shows back up. It has never spread or become agressive.

I think it can be known to have irratic germination. Wildflowers are often like that too.

And, herbs seem to act different in various climates.

I've had the same experience with comfrey ~ everything I was reading said how agressive the plant is, but not for me, I can barely keep it growing. Come to think of it, it's the same with catnip. Now, everyone else can grow that, except me!!

As of today, I can see my little horehound plant hiding beneath the leaves, waiting for spring. Once it wakes up this spring, I'll be happy to share a piece with any of you up there.

My mom's house in southern NM is inundated with this weed. It's a horrible weed with nasty stickers that get into EVERYTHING. It doesn't repel grasshoppers, takes over the yard, and it's a horrible nuisance. We tried for years & years to eradicate it to no avail. The stickers get into the dog's fur, the carpet, your shoe laces, and they don't come OFF. Hate this plant.

Toni, you're not alone in your sentiments; I just recently read some similar words about the horehound plant. I think it was someone from Southern California, so probably on the dry side (as the song goes, 'It never rains in California').

It's supposed to be invasive here in Texas but I haven't noticed. When we had drought conditions two summers in a row, the horehound was struggling to survive so I moved it into part shade. It's doing well.

I grew mine on purpose after much effort. It's the medicinal value that draws me to this herb. And the fond memories. I procrastinated and didn't make my horehound candy last year. I'm looking forward to making it this year - for sure!!

According to this website, horehound germinates in the wild with sufficient rain in autumn and followup rain in winter and spring. It also says that seedlings don't survive low rainfall in spring and summer ~ read the entire info here ~
http://www.texasinvasives.org/...