Practical
Plants

Collinsonia canadensis

Stone Root

a perennial member of the Collinsonia genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.8 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Minute doses of the fresh leaves can cause vomiting[6], though the root is well-tolerated by the body[7].

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 whole plant, but especially the fresh root, is alterative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative, tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary[9][5][11][2][3]. A tea made from the roots is strongly diuretic, it is valuable in the treatment of all complaints of the urinary system and the rectum and is used in the treatment of piles, indigestion, diarrhoea, kidney complaints etc[9][6]. It has proved of benefit in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, mucous colitis and varicose veins[8]. The root is seldom used on its own but is contained in remedies with other herbs, especially Aphanes arvensis, Eupatorium purpureum and Hydrangea arborescens[7]. The roots contain more than 13,000 parts per million of rosmarinic acid, the same anti-oxidant that is found in rosemary[6]. The fresh leaves are strongly emetic[6]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity[6]. A poultice of the leaves or roots is applied to burns, bruises, sores, sprains etc[9][6][8].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Ontario and Vermont to Florida, west to Wisconsin.
Habitat
Rich damp woods[10][6].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown in the spring, though it might be slower to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant them out in spring or early summer of their second year. Division in spring[1].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a sandy peat in a moist situation but it is easily grown in ordinary garden soils[1] so long as they are not dry[4]. Prefers dappled shade[4]. The whole plant has a strong disagreeable odour and a pungent spicy taste[9]. Another report says that the foliage is strongly aromatic, with a lemon scent[7].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩

  3. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  6. 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↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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