Ballota (horehound) is a genus of about 35 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, north Africa and western Asia, with the highest diversity in the Mediterranean region.

Ballota species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera including Coleophora case-bearers: C. ballotella, C. lineolea (which has been recorded on B. nigra) and C. ochripennella.

Selected species

• Ballota acetabulosa
• Ballota frutescens
• Ballota nigra - Black Horehound
• Ballota pseudodictamnus

The genus is closely related to Marrubium, with some species having been included in that genus in the past.

Lamiaceae

Schwarznesseln | Ballota