Common Name: Agrimony

General Information

Agrimonia eupatoria is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing one or more usually unbranched stems 30 - 100cm tall from a rather thick, rhizomatous rootstock[, ].
Agrimony has a long history of medicinal use and is still a popular herbal remedy, both harvested from the wild and also cultivated on a small scale. The plant is also used to make a tea and is the source of a dye. It is sometimes grown in the herb garden and the wild garden.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain; Mediterranean, east through Asia to western Siberia, northern China, Afghanistan

Habitat

Fields, stone walls, waste ground and roadside verges[, ], usually on alkaline soils[], preferring sunny positions[]. Thinned -out forests, forest edges, meadows, pastures, roadsides, edges
of fields, alongside fences[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in most soils[, ], preferring a calcareous soil[]. Thrives in a dry lightly shaded position[], though it prefers full sun[].
Plants usually self-sow quite freely when growing in a suitable position[]. 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[].
The cultivar 'Sweet scented' is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweetly scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance[].

Edible Uses

A refreshing tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves, flowers and stems[, ]. It can be drunk hot or cold[]. It was formerly very popular either on its own or added to China tea, having a peculiar delicacy and aroma[].

Seed - dried and ground into a meal. A famine food, used when all else fails[]. This report could refer to Agrimonia pilosa. Ledeb. (q.v.).

Medicinal

Agrimony has long been used as a popular domestic herbal remedy[]. An astringent and mildly bitter herb, it is a helpful remedy for diarrhoea and a gentle tonic for the digestion as a whole[].

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[]. When taken internally, an infusion of the plant has a great reputation in the treatment of jaundice and other complaints of the liver[, , , , , , ], it is also used to treat diarrhoea and as a gargle for sore throats[].
Externally, a strong decoction is used to treat wounds, skin problems, haemorrhoids etc[, , , ].
The plant is harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use[].

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Mental torture' and 'Worry, concealed from others'[].

Other Uses

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

The root contains tannins[].

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[], though germination rates can be low, especially if the seed has been stored[]. 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[]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.