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Lycopus asper - Greene.

Common Name Rough Bugleweed
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Marshes and wet shores, tolerating alkaline conditions[60].
Range N. America - Michigan to Kansas, west to Manitoba, British Columbia, California and Arizona.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lycopus asper Rough Bugleweed


Robert Tatina. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute
Lycopus asper Rough Bugleweed
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 3

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lycopus asper is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies.
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 moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

L. lucidus americana.

Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - boiled or dried for later use[46, 61, 105, 161, 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.
Laxative

A decoction of the plant has been given to children as a laxative[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. This species is often confused with L. lucidus[60]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Succeeds in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[238]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or autumn[238]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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
Lycopus americanusWater Horehound, American water horehoundPerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe131
Lycopus amplectensClasping water horehoundPerennial1.2 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Lycopus europaeusGypsywortPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHSNMWeWa132
Lycopus lucidusBugleweed, Rough bugleweedPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNMWe12 
Lycopus maackianus Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWe10 
Lycopus uniflorusBugleweed, Northern bugleweedPerennial0.3 4-8  LMHSNMWe31 
Lycopus virginicusBugleweed, Virginia water horehoundPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNMWe230

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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Greene.

Botanical References

4360235

Links / References

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

Readers comment

Steve Dupey   Thu Dec 1 2005

Native here in the interior pacific northwest USA.. steam and marsh edges. Very few references to its use .. but the native americans used it..(crow potatoes). My experiments indicate it may have great potential as a cultivated plant. Wild collected tubers in late winter early spring...(when starch to sugar conversion has presumably reached its peak) are excellant, with a good nutty taste. Id rate them well over chinese artichokes in flavor and size and potential yield. Not sure if fall harvested ones have developed flavor yet though. Also having trouble getting cultivated plants to fully mature the tubers.. though an indivual plant can grow hundreds in one season. Still working out the cultivation. Probably should be container grown... invasive in garden. Fertilization regime for tuber production and size needs to yet be worked out. Grows aquatically or in moist soil. Tubers are elongated.. and corrugated, a couple centimeters in diameter and up to ten or more in length... though this is variable.

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