Antennaria dioica
| Antennaria dioica | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 0.4' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Antennaria dioica (common name: catsfoot)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in cold frame and only just cover the seed. Do not allow the soil to dry out. The seed germinates in 1 -2 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring of the following year[K].
Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, the divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Cultivation: Prefers a light well-drained soil in full sun, succeeding in poor soils[1][2][3]. Established plants are drought tolerant[4].
This species is very susceptible to slug damage, the young growth in spring is particularly at risk[K].
Tolerates light treading[3].
The flowers are sometimes cut and used as 'everlasting flowers' since they dry well and keep their colour[5].
Plants are usually dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Some male plants have a few hermaphrodite flowers, though these are usually sterile. Apomictic flowers are also produced[6], these produce seed without sexual fertilization, each seedling being a clone of the parent plant.
Range: Northern and central Europe, including Britain, to Siberia and W. Asia.
Habitat: Mountain grassland, heaths, dry pastures and woodland edges, usually on calcareous soils[7][8][6].
Medicinal: Catsfoot has been little used in herbal medicine though it was once used in mixtures for the treatment of bronchitis and bilious conditions[9].
The whole plant is antitussive, astringent, cholagogue, discutient, diuretic and emollient[10][5][7][11]. The plant is very rich in mucilage which makes it very valuable in the treatment of chest complaints[5]. It is also used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder complaints, hepatitis and diarrhoea[12]. Externally it is used as a gargle for treating tonsillitis and as a douche for vaginitis[12]. The herb is gathered in May before it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[5].
Usage: A good ground cover plant for sunny positions. Rather slow to spread, however, and it requires weeding for at least the first year[13]. Plants form a carpet and root as they spread[14].
Pollinators: Apomictic
Soil: Can grow in light soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Also Known As: Gnaphalium dioicum.
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.