Agrimonia eupatoria - Agrimony

Family:	Rosaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.45
Synonyms:	A. odorata.
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, south to N. Africa and east to Iran.

Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.45m . It has a hardness rating of 0and is vunerable to frost.
Agrimony will flower in December to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, self

Soil Information

Agrimony will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Agrimony prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Agrimony can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Fields, stone walls, waste ground and roadside verges[7, 17], usually on alkaline soils[200], preferring sunny positions[165].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Suits a meadow
• Will grow in a hedge row
• In an East Wall

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in most soils[133, 200], preferring a calcareous soil[13]. Thrives in a dry lightly shaded position[14], though it prefers full sun[238]. Plants usually self-sow quite freely when growing in a suitable position[238]. The seeds are contained in burrs that can easily attach themselves to clothing or animal's fur, thus transporting them to a new area where they can germinate and grow[244]. The cultivar 'Sweet scented' is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweet scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance[183].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
A refreshing tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves, flowers and stems[2, 183]. It can be drunk hot or cold[183]. It was formerly very popular either on its own or added to China tea, having a peculiar delicacy and aroma[4]. Seed - dried and ground into a meal. A famine food, used when all else fails[179]. This report could refer to A. pilosa. Ledeb. (q.v.).

• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Agrimony has long been used as a popular domestic herbal remedy[4]. An astringent and mildly bitter herb, it is a helpful remedy for diarrhoea and a gentle tonic for the digestion as a whole[254]. The whole plant is antiaphonic, astringent, blood purifier, cholagogue, diuretic, tonic and vulnerary. It contains up to 5% tannin, which has a strongly astringent effect[244]. When taken internally, an infusion of the plant has a great reputation in the treatment of jaundice and other complaints of the liver[4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 21, 165], it is also used to treat diarrhoea and as a gargle for sore throats[244]. Externally, a strong decoction is used to treat wounds, skin problems, haemorrhoids etc[4, 7, 238, 244]. The plant is harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use[9]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Mental torture' and 'Worry, concealed from others'[209].

• Antiaphonic - Restores the voice.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Bach - Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
• Blood purifier - Purifies the blood.
• Cholagogue - Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Hepatic - Acts on the liver (for better or worse!).
• Skin - Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in spring or autumn, either in pots in a cold frame or in situ. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 13°c[133], though germination rates can be low, especially if the seed has been stored[244]. A period of cold stratification helps but is not essential. When grown in pots, prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division in autumn[200]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : FreshLeaves : CrushedRoot : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root[1, 24, 57] - from whole plant according to other report,[4, 46] - and from the leaves according to another[148]. Harvested in autumn[115], the yellow becomes deeper the later that the plant is harvested[4].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.

Cultivars

'Sweet Scented' - This cultivar is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweetly scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance[183].

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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