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Useful Temperate Plants

Ageratina occidentalis

(Hook.) R.M.King & H.Rob.

Asteraceae

+ Synonyms

Eupatorium berlandieri A.Gray

Eupatorium occidentale Hook.

Eupatorium oregonum Nutt.

Kyrstenia occidentalis (Hook.) Greene

Common Name: Western Snakeroot

Ageratina occidentalis
Flowering plant in native habitat
Photograph by: Keir Morse; CalPhotos
Creative Commons License
Ageratina occidentalis Ageratina occidentalis Ageratina occidentalis

General Information

Ageratina occidentalis is a perennial plant producing a clump of erect to ascending, branched stems 15 - 70cm tall from a woody, rhizomatous rootstock. The stems are more or less woody, especially near their base.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

Western N. America - Washington to Montana, south to California and Utah

Habitat

Crevices, outcrops, rocky slopes, ridges, talus, gravelly and sandy stream bars, mixed hardwood-conifer woodlands, aspen, open and brushy vegetation; at elevations from 900 - 2,800 metres, sometimes descending to 50 metres or ascending to 3200 metres[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
]

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in an ordinary well-drained but moisture retentive garden soil in sun or part shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used externally in the treatment of rheumatism and swellings[
254
Title
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
Chevallier. A.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley. London
Year
1996
ISBN
9-780751-303148
Description
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
,
257
Title
Native American Ethnobotany
Publication
 
Author
Moerman. D.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-88192-453-9
Description
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame, only just covering the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Ageratina+occidentalis>

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