Common Name: Sneeze-Wort

General Information

Ahillea ptarmica is a perennial plant producing a cluster of flowering stems up to 60cm tall from underground rhizomes. The plant forms a spreading mat of growth and can be somewhat invasive[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and insect repellent. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental, especially the cultivar 'The Pearl'.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe, including Britain but excluding the Mediterranean, east to Siberia and W. Asia.

Habitat

Damp meadows, marshes and by streams[]. Roadsides, disturbed sites, open fields and pastures, in sandy or gravelly soils or in moist to drying silty soils from sea level to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Hardy to at least -25°c[].
Succeeds in most soils but prefers a moist well-drained soil. Tolerant of some shade, but grows better in a sunny position[, , ]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[]. They live longer when growing in a poor soil[]. The plant has a spreading root system and can be very invasive[].
There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , ]. Used as a flavouring in salads[].

Medicinal

The plant is cardiac, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, odontalgic, sternutatory, styptic[, ].
The leaf is chewed to relieve toothache[].

Other Uses

The dried, powdered leaves are used as a sneezing powder[, ].

Yields an essential oil that is used medicinally[]. The report does not say what part of the plant the oil is obtained from, it is most likely to be the leaves harvested just before flowering[].

The leaves are used as an insect repellent[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in a cold frame[]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months[]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, the divisions can be planted direct into their permanent positions.
Basal cuttings of new shoots in spring. Very easy, collect the shoots when they are about 10cm tall, potting them up individually in pots and keeping them in a warm but lightly shaded position. They should root within 3 weeks and will be ready to plant out in the summer.