Practical
Plants

Ajuga chamaepitys

Ground Pine

an annual member of the Ajuga genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Ajuga
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.15 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

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.

The leaves are diuretic, stimulant and emmenagogue[4]. The plant acts mainly on the urinary system and uterus[3]. It once had a high reputation in the treatment of rheumatism, dropsy, jaundice etc and has also proved of worth when used in conjunction with other herbs in the treatment of women's complaints[4]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use[3].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Women's complaints

Environment

Range
CentraL and souther Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and E. Asia.
Habitat
Very local in sandy and chalky arable fields and in open habitats in chalky grassland in southeastern England[4][1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination can be erratic[3].

Cultivation

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

Thrives in a poor dry soil in full sun[3]. Prefers a humus-rich moisture-retentive soil[2]. Plants are usually annual, but are sometimes short-lived perennials[2]. The whole plant smells of pine trees when crushed[1][3].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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