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Common Name: Burning Bush

General Information

Dictamnus albus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

Poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

S. and C. Europe.

Habitat

Woodland margins and rocky scree, mainly on calcareous soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, succeeding in ordinary garden soil[]. It prefers a dry sunny position with some lime[, ] and is not suitable for heavy or damp soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A very ornamental plant[], it should be planted into its permanent position as soon as possible because it dislikes root disturbance[, ].
The whole plant contains a very aromatic essential oil, giving out a scent somewhat like lemon peel[]. When the plant is bruised, this smell becomes more like fine balsam[]. This essential oil is emitted from the plant in hot weather and, on a still day, can be ignited and will burn for a second or two without harming the plant, thus giving the plant its common name[, , , ].
Slugs are strongly attracted to this plant and can destroy it by eating all the young growth in spring[].
There are at least 2 named varieties, 'Pink' produces a tea with a less lemony flavour but with an added taste of almonds and vanilla, 'White' has a lemony fragrance and taste[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[].

Edible Uses

A lemon-scented tea is made from the dried leaves[, , ]. Refreshing and aromatic[].

Medicinal

The burning bush has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for at least 1,500 years[]. The root bark is a bitter, strong-smelling herb that lowers fevers and controls bacterial and fungal infections[]. The plant has an effect similar to rue (Ruta graveolens) in that it strongly stimulates the muscles of the uterus, inducing menstruation and sometimes causing abortion[]. By contrast, its effect upon the gastro-intestinal tract is antispasmodic and it acts as a mild tonic on the stomach[].
Both the flowering stems and the root-bark are used medicinally[]. They are abortifacient, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, aromatic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, stimulant and tonic[, , , , , , ]. The plant is used both internally and externally in the treatment of skin diseases (especially scabies and eczema), German measles, arthritic pain and jaundice[]. It is little used in Western herbalism nowadays, though it has been recommended for use in nervous complaints, intermittent fevers, scrofulous and scorbutic diseases[]. Use with caution, in large doses it is poisonous[, ].
The root bark is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[].
An infusion of the leaves is used as a tea substitute and is a good digestive[].
A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh leaves[]. It is used in the treatment of female complaints and constipation[].

Other Uses

The plant contains an essential oil[]. Yields from the fresh flowering plant are around 3% on a dry weight basis[]. This oil is used as a cosmetic[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Cold stratify stored seed for 6 weeks and sow in the spring in a cold frame[]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on 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[]. Take care since the plant resents root disturbance[]. The plant can also be divided in autumn[]. We have found it best to tease out divisions from the side of the clump to avoid the need to dig up the main clump. Try to get divisions that already have formed roots. Pot them up in a greenhouse and grow them on for a year to make sure they are well established before planting them out.
Root cuttings in late autumn.