Agrimony

Agrimonia eupatoria Rosaceae

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Native distribution

Europe, Western Asia, North Africa

Biocultural value

Leaves and flowers contain astringent tannins, silica and Vitamin K. During Anglo-Saxon times it was valued for these wound healing properties. The entire plant yields yellow dye with alum and chrome as mordants. With iron, grey shades are obtained.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Well-Sweep Herb Farm, Nichols Garden Nursery, Richters

Description

Perennial reaching 5' in height, usually hirsute below. Leaves largely in lower part, leaflets 7 to 13, oblong to narrow-obovate, gray-hairy beneath, to 1" across, rounded at base, with 6 to 13 teeth on either side; pedicels less than 3/16" long, lower bracts 3-lobed. Petals golden-yellow, 3/16" long, obconic, deeply grooved throughout, with slightly spreading bristles.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

medicinal/pharmaceutical, other ethnobotanical uses

Agrimonia eupatoria