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Common Name: Bugleweed

General Information

Lycopus uniflorus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, North Carolina, Nebraska and Oregon

Habitat

Low, wet or boggy ground in the north of its range, wet woodland in the south[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. This species might be no more than a synonym for L. virginicus, a species known to be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Succeeds in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. The roots were a staple food for some native North American Indian tribes[]. The crisp white tubers can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups etc[]. When boiled for a short time they are said to make an agreeable vegetable, somewhat like Chinese artichokes (Stachys affinis)[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is antitussive and sedative[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.