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Agrimonia eupatoria - L.

Common Name Agrimony, Churchsteeples
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards Large quantities could lead to digestive complaints and constipation due to its tannins.
Habitats Fields, stone walls, waste ground and roadside verges[7, 17], usually on alkaline soils[200], preferring sunny positions[165].
Range Most of Europe, including Britain, south to N. Africa and east to Iran.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony, Churchsteeples


Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony, Churchsteeples
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Agrimonia eupatoria is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agrimonia odorata.

Plant Habitats

 Meadow; Hedgerow; East Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Tea

A refreshing tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves, flowers and stems[2, 183]. It can be drunk hot or cold[183]. It was formerly very popular either on its own or added to China tea, having a peculiar delicacy and aroma[4]. Seed - dried and ground into a meal. A famine food, used when all else fails[179]. This report could refer to A. pilosa. Ledeb. (q.v.).

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiaphonic  Antidiarrhoeal  Astringent  Bach  Blood purifier  Cholagogue  Diuretic  Hepatic  
Skin  Tonic  Vulnerary

Medical part: the flowering plant cut an inch or 2 above the ground and dried. Agrimony has long been used as a popular domestic herbal remedy[4]. An astringent and mildly bitter herb, it is a helpful remedy for diarrhoea and a gentle tonic for the digestion as a whole[254]. The whole plant is antiaphonic, astringent, blood purifier, cholagogue, diuretic, tonic and vulnerary. It contains up to 5% tannin, which has a strongly astringent effect[244]. When taken internally, an infusion of the plant has a great reputation in the treatment of jaundice and other complaints of the liver[4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 21, 165], it is also used to treat diarrhoea and as a gargle for sore throats[244]. Externally, a strong decoction is used to treat wounds, skin problems, haemorrhoids etc[4, 7, 238, 244]. The plant is harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use[9]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Mental torture' and 'Worry, concealed from others'[209]. Contraindicated for hypersensitivity to plants from rose family. Contraindicated in pregnancy and during lactation[301]. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine approve Agrimonia eupatoria for diarrhoea, inflammation of the skin, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx (see [302] for critics of commission E).

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow dye is obtained from the root[1, 24, 57] - from whole plant according to other report,[4, 46] - and from the leaves according to another[148]. Harvested in autumn[115], the yellow becomes deeper the later that the plant is harvested[4].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in most soils[133, 200], preferring a calcareous soil[13]. Thrives in a dry lightly shaded position[14], though it prefers full sun[238]. Plants usually self-sow quite freely when growing in a suitable position[238]. The seeds are contained in burrs that can easily attach themselves to clothing or animal's fur, thus transporting them to a new area where they can germinate and grow[244]. The cultivar 'Sweet scented' is popular in France for making tea because the whole plant is sweet scented and the flowers have a spicy apricot-like fragrance[183].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - can be sown in spring or autumn, either in pots in a cold frame or in situ. It usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 13°c[133], though germination rates can be low, especially if the seed has been stored[244]. A period of cold stratification helps but is not essential. When grown in pots, prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division in autumn[200]. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (south)), Kazakhstan (southeast), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China (Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria (north), Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Agrimonia parvifloraHarvestlicePerennial2.0 -  LMHSNDM02 
Agrimonia pilosaHairy AgrimonyPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNDM23 
Agrimonia striataRoadside agrimony 0.0 0-0  LMHSNM020

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Tom Dunbar   Mon Jan 23 2006

Larval foodplant of the Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae) butterfly.

Marinella Zepigi Pessina   Sun Oct 29 2006

Il Forum dei Funghi e Fiori in Italia - Micologia e Botanica scheda

Marinella Zepigi   Mon Jun 9 2008

Acta plantarum forum botanico Agrimonia eupatoria L.- Description, Photos

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