Gratiola officinalis - Hedge Hyssop

Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.4
Width:	0.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Central and southern Europe.

Gratiola officinalis (Hedge Hyssop) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.4m and a width of 0.25m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Hedge Hyssop will flower in December to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Hedge Hyssop 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
Hedge Hyssop prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Hedge Hyssop can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Wet grassland, fens, river banks, ditches etc[9, 50].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Prefers a rich moist alkaline soil in full sun[1, 200, 238]. Succeeds in pond margins[1].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
Hedge hyssop was once widely used as a medicinal herb but it is now considered to be obsolete because of its toxicity[238]. The root and the flowering herb are cardiac, diuretic, violently purgative and vermifuge[4, 9, 21]. The plant has been used in the treatment of liver problems, enlargement of the spleen, dropsy, jaundice, intestinal worms etc[4, 238]. The plant is harvested whilst in flower in the summer and dried for later use[9, 238]. Use with caution, in excess the plant causes abortion, kidney damage and bowel haemorrhage[238]. See also the notes above on toxicity. A homeopathic remedy is made from the flowering plant[9]. It is used in the treatment of cystitis, colic and certain stomach disorders[9].

• Cardiac - Used in the treatment of heart problems.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
• Purgative - A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
• Vermifuge - Expels and kills internal parasites.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant are poisonous[9, 65, 200].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora Europaea
?
Author: ?
Rating:
Publisher : An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1964

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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