Practical
Plants

Anaphalis margaritacea

Pearly Everlasting

a perennial member of the Anaphalis genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.9 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - cooked[2][6].

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.

Pearly everlasting was often employed medicinally by native North American Indian tribes who used it in the treatment of a range of ailments[13]. It is little used in modern herbalism. The whole plant is anodyne, antiseptic, astringent, expectorant and sedative[14][15][4][11]. Used internally, it is a good remedy for diarrhoea, dysentery and pulmonary affections[14]. A poultice of the flowers or the whole plant is applied to burns, sores, ulcers, bruises, swellings and rheumatic joints[14][11][13]. An infusion of the plant is steamed and inhaled in the treatment of headaches[13]. a cooled infusion of the roots and shots has been used as a laxative and emetic to treat 'poison stomach'[13].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

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

Yellow to gold, also green and brown dyes can be obtained from the flowers, stems and leaves combined[4]. The leaves, flowers and stems have been used as an incense, especially in baby cradles[13].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
N. America. N.E. Asia. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Moist meadows, by rivers, on wall tops and in sandy and waste places[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, 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 a cold frame[1][3]. The seed is best sown when it is ripe in the autumn. It usually germinates in 4 - 8 weeks at 15°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division is very easy at almost any time of the year, the divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light well-drained soil and a sunny position[1][3]. Requires a moist soil[9]. Succeeds in most soils[8], including poor ones[1], and also in light shade[8]. Succeeds in the shade of buildings, but not of trees[12]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[7]. The flowering stems can be dried and used as everlasting flowers[10]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[12]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  10. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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