Practical
Plants

Antennaria dioica

Catsfoot

a perennial evergreen member of the Antennaria genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.12 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Apomictic
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Apomictic

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.

Catsfoot has been little used in herbal medicine though it was once used in mixtures for the treatment of bronchitis and bilious conditions[11]. The whole plant is antitussive, astringent, cholagogue, discutient, diuretic and emollient[12][13][14][9]. The plant is very rich in mucilage which makes it very valuable in the treatment of chest complaints[13]. It is also used in the treatment of liver and gall bladder complaints, hepatitis and diarrhoea[10]. Externally it is used as a gargle for treating tonsillitis and as a douche for vaginitis[10]. The herb is gathered in May before it comes into flower and can be dried for later use[13].

Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient

Material uses

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

A good ground cover plant for sunny positions. Rather slow to spread, however, and it requires weeding for at least the first year[6]. Plants form a carpet and root as they spread[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Northern and central Europe, including Britain, to Siberia and W. Asia.
Habitat
Mountain grassland, heaths, dry pastures and woodland edges, usually on calcareous soils[14][2][4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in cold frame and only just cover the seed. Do not allow the soil to dry out. The seed germinates in 1 -2 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring of the following year[K]. Division in spring or autumn. Fairly easy, the divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light well-drained soil in full sun, succeeding in poor soils[1][3][7]. Established plants are drought tolerant[5]. This species is very susceptible to slug damage, the young growth in spring is particularly at risk[K]. Tolerates light treading[7]. The flowers are sometimes cut and used as 'everlasting flowers' since they dry well and keep their colour[13]. Plants are usually dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Some male plants have a few hermaphrodite flowers, though these are usually sterile. Apomictic flowers are also produced[4], these produce seed without sexual fertilization, each seedling being a clone of the parent plant.

References

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

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

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

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

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  6. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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

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  13. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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