Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess the light levels in your plant's current spot.
- Check if the stems are leaning toward a light source.
- Look for signs of new growth at the base of the plant.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are stretching out with large gaps between the leaves. The plant looks sparse and leans heavily toward the nearest window.
What to do: Move your plant to a brighter location that gets full sun or bright, indirect light. If you cannot provide enough natural light, place it under a grow light for 10 to 12 hours a day.
Lack of Pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is tall and lanky but otherwise healthy. It has not been trimmed back during the growing season.
What to do: Pinch back the growing tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth. You can trim the stems back by 2 to 4 inches to help the plant fill out.
Find out what's wrong with your marsh woundwort
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is not a health emergency, but it does mean your plant is not thriving. It is normal for the plant to grow tall as it prepares to flower in the summer.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant in a bright spot and trim it back regularly to maintain a compact shape.
Marsh woundwort: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your marsh woundwort and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Will my leggy stems fill back in?
- Unfortunately, the bare sections of the stems will not grow new leaves. It is best to prune them back to encourage fresh, dense growth from the base.
- Can I grow this plant in deep shade?
- No, this plant needs plenty of light to stay compact. Deep shade will almost always result in a weak, leggy plant.
More problems with Marsh woundwort
- Why is my Marsh woundwort drooping?
- Why are there spots on my Marsh woundwort?
- Why are my Marsh woundwort leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Marsh woundwort's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Marsh woundwort dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Marsh woundwort not flowering?
- Why are there pests on my Marsh woundwort?
- Why are my Marsh woundwort leaves curling?
Back to the Marsh woundwort guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.