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Common Name: Ploughman's Spikenard

General Information

Inula conyza is a Biennial/Perennial up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central and southeastern Europe, including Britain, from Denmark to N. Africa and the Near East.

Habitat

Dry or rocky slopes and cliffs, also in open scrub on calcareous soils[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial/Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[].
The basal leaves of this species are often mistaken for the foxglove, Digitalis purpurea[].
The basal leaves form a rosette that covers the ground for 30cm or more, destroying the grass underneath[].
All parts of the plant are refreshingly aromatic[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The herb is antiscrofulatic, emmenagogue and vulnerary[]. The plant was considered to be a good wound herb and it was frequently taken in decoction for bruises, ruptures, internal wounds etc[]. It was applied externally to treat itchy skin[].

Other Uses

The leaves are burnt and used as an insecticide and parasiticide, especially against fleas[, ]. Even the smell of the plant is said to drive fleas away[].
The root used to be burnt upon a fire in order to scent a room[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
If you have sufficient seed, it is worthwhile trying a sowing in situ in the spring or the autumn.