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Stachys palustris - L.

Common Name Marsh Woundwort, Marsh hedgenettle
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards Avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding [301].
Habitats By streams and ditches, also in swamps and fens. Occasionally found on arable land[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, south and east from Norway to Portugal and temperate Asia to Japan.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort, Marsh hedgenettle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stachys_palustris_Sturm45.jpg
Stachys palustris Marsh Woundwort, Marsh hedgenettle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fice

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Stachys palustris is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Stachys aquatica Bubani. Stachys austriaca Heynh. Stachys maeotica Postrig.

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Seed  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Tubers - raw or cooked[K]. A wholesome and nutritious food[4], they have a pleasant mild nutty flavour[K]. The tubers can be dried and ground into a powder that is used in making bread etc[2, 4, 12, 115, 183]. The tubers are formed in the autumn[17]. Although quite small, they are fairly smooth and produced in a reasonable quantity so are not too fiddly to utilize[K]. Young shoots - cooked. Used as an asparagus substitute[183]. A pleasant taste but the smell is disagreeable[4]. Seed[257]. No further details are given[257].

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.
Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Emetic  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  Haemostatic  Nervine  Sedative  
Tonic  Vulnerary

The plant is antiseptic, antispasmodic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, haemostatic, nervine, sedative, tonic, vulnerary[4, 61, 218]. The plant has been highly valued for its wound-healing activity, being effective against both internal and external bleeding, and is also used in the treatment of gout, cramps and pains in the joints[4]. The herb is harvested in the summer when just coming into flower and can be dried for later use[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow dye is obtained from the plant[207].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a moist soil for good root production[2, 24]. A good bee plant[24]. All parts of the plant emit an unpleasant smell when bruised[245]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Ciscaucasia, Eastern Siberia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia, Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia, Tajikistan, Turkey (north), Western Siberia, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu,Iran (northwest). TROPICAL ASIA: India, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan (northeast), EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation-European part, European part, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal,

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 :

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12

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

17

Links / References

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

Readers comment

   Jun 17 2014 12:00AM

I might be usefull to add that this plant is considered as a difficult weed in large parts of Sweden.

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Subject : Stachys palustris  
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