Vincetoxicum hirundinaria - Swallow Wort

Family:	Asclepiadaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Synonyms:	V. officinale. Moench. Cynanchum vincetoxicum.
Range:	Europe to E. Asia.

Vincetoxicum hirundinaria (Swallow Wort) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Swallow Wort will flower in November. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Swallow Wort 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
Swallow Wort prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Swallow Wort can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Wood margins and open places, north to latitude 60° 30' north in Europe[50].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. A polymorphic species.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic[4, 61]. Used in the treatment of dropsy[4]. The juice of the plant is applied to boils and pimples[272].

• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emetic - Induces vomiting.
• Skin - Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Known Hazards

The plant is poisonous[51].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
F. Chittendon.
Author: F. Chittendon.
Rating:
Publisher : Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
Date of Publication : 1951

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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