Practical
Plants

Gratiola officinalis

Hedge Hyssop

a perennial member of the Gratiola genus in the family Scrophulariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.4 m
Spread
0.25 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

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.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[8][7][2].

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.

Hedge hyssop was once widely used as a medicinal herb but it is now considered to be obsolete because of its toxicity[4]. The root and the flowering herb are cardiac, diuretic, violently purgative and vermifuge[5][8][3]. The plant has been used in the treatment of liver problems, enlargement of the spleen, dropsy, jaundice, intestinal worms etc[5][4]. The plant is harvested whilst in flower in the summer and dried for later use[8][4]. Use with caution, in excess the plant causes abortion, kidney damage and bowel haemorrhage[4]. See also the notes above on toxicity. A homeopathic remedy is made from the flowering plant[8]. It is used in the treatment of cystitis, colic and certain stomach disorders[8].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Vermifuge

Environment

Range
Central and southern Europe.
Habitat
Wet grassland, fens, river banks, ditches etc[8][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
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. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a rich moist alkaline soil in full sun[1][2][4]. Succeeds in pond margins[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  7. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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