Practical
Plants

Aegopodium podagraria

Ground Elder

a perennial member of the Aegopodium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[7][14][15][2][17][1]. An unusual tangy flavour[6], the majority of people we give it to do not like it[K] although some reports say that it makes a delicious vegetable[12]. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower, they can be used in salads, soups, or cooked as a vegetable[19].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Ground Elder has a long history of medicinal use and was cultivated as a food crop and medicinal herb in the Middle Ages. The plant was used mainly as a food that could counteract gout, one of the effects of the rich foods eaten by monks, bishops etc at this time. The plant is little used in modern herbalism. All parts of the plant are antirheumatic, diuretic, sedative and vulnerary[19][3][16][17][18]. An infusion is used in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and disorders of the bladder and intestines[19]. Externally, it is used as a poultice on burns, stings, wounds, painful joints etc[19][13]. The plant is harvested when it is in flower in late spring to mid-summer and can be used fresh or be dried for later use[19][11]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the flowering plant[19]. It is used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism[19].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species makes a good ground-cover for semi-wild situations[8]. Make sure that it has plenty of room since it can be very invasive and is considered to be a weed in many gardens[9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, to western Asia and Siberia.
Habitat
Hedgerows and cultivated land[4]. A common garden weed[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Very easy, divisions can be carried out at almost any time of the year and the divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers damp shady conditions[2][3][8] but succeeds in most soils[8]. Prefers a well-drained soil, succeeding in sun or shade[11]. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[8]. This species was cultivated in the Middle Ages as a medicinal and food plant[15][4][5][13]. A very invasive plant, spreading freely at the roots[14][16][9], though it seldom sets seed in Britain[9]. Once established it can be very difficult to eradicate because any small piece of root left in the ground can regrow[K]. If introducing this plant to your garden, it might be best to restrict the roots by growing the plant in a bottomless container buried in the soil[11]. There is a variegated form of this species that is less invasive and is sometimes grown in the ornamental garden[9]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[10].

References

  1. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  2. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  13. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  15. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  16. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  17. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩1↩2

  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  19. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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