Hepatica nobilis
| Hepatica nobilis | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 0.3' |
| Width: | 0.3' |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Early Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hepatica nobilis (common name: hepatica)
Propagation: Seed - sow in a moist soil in a shady position[1]. The stored seed requires stratification for about 3 weeks at 0 - 5°c. Germination takes 1 - 12 months at 10°c. It is probably worthwhile sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. When 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 just as the leafless plant comes into flower in late winter. Replant immediately into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: Prefers a deep light alkaline soil with leafmould[2][3]. Another report says that it grows best in a deep loam or clay soil[4]. Grows well on limey woodland soils in half shade, though it also succeeds in deep shade and in full sun[1].
A very ornamental plant[1]. It grows well in the rock garden[1] and in the woodland[5].
Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[5].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[6].
Range: Europe.
Habitat: Damp underground in shady deciduous, usually beech, woodlands, scrub and grassland, especially on limestone[7][8][9].
Medicinal: The leaves and flowers are astringent, demulcent, diuretic, rubefacient, tonic and vulnerary[4][7][8][10]. It is a mild remedy that is little used in modern herbalism, but it is sometimes employed in treating disorders of the liver and gall bladder, indigestion etc[4][3]. Externally, it is applied to skin diseases, slow healing cuts etc[4][8]. The plant should be harvested in March and April, it can also be dried for later use[4]. Use with caution[10], see notes above on toxicity.
Pollinators: Bees, flies, beetles, lepidoptera
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is poisonous in large doses[9][11][10]. The toxic principle is dissipated by heat or drying[12].
Also Known As: H. triloba. Anemone hepatica. L.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Hatfield, Audrey. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd, 1974.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.