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Common Name: Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

General Information

Pilosella officinarum is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Temperate and subarctic Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.

Habitat

Upland pastures, meadows, heaths, banks, on walls etc, usually on dry soil[, , ]. It is also found as a weed of lawns[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[]. Prefers a well-drained to dry poor soil in sun or partial shade[].
A common lawn plant[], it is also a good bee and butterfly plant[, ]. It grows well on the top of dry walls[].
A strongly stoloniferous plant, it can be very invasive[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Mouse-ear hawkweed relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tubes, stimulates the cough reflex and reduces the production of catarrh[]. This combination of actions makes the herb effective against all manner of respiratory problems including asthma, wheeziness, whooping cough, bronchitis and other congested and chronic coughs[].
The herb is mildly astringent, cholagogue, diaphoretic, strongly diuretic, expectorant and tonic[, , , , ]. The fresh plant is antibiotic[]. The plant has been regarded as a specific for whooping cough[] and is also used in treating other problems of the respiratory system such as asthma, bronchitis and influenza[]. The herb is also taken in the treatment of enteritis, influenza, pyelitis and cystitis[]. It is occasionally used externally in the treatment of small wounds and cuts[].The plant is harvested in May and June whilst in flower and can be used fresh or dried[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. 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 can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring or autumn[].
Division in spring or autumn[]. Very easy, 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.