Practical
Plants

Helianthemum canadense

Frostweed

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cistaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.35 m
Fertility
Insects, Cleistogamy
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Cleistogamy

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.

The dried leaves are alterative, antiscrofulatic, astringent and tonic[7][3][9][2]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of kidney ailments and sore throats[4][6]. A strong leaf tea has been used in the treatment of scrofula[4]. It is applied externally to skin diseases and eye infections[4]. It is said that an oil helpful in the treatment of cancer has been obtained from the plant[7]. Some caution is advised since an overdose can cause nausea and vomiting[7].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Antiscrophulatic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Maine to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to North Carolina and Mississippi.
Habitat
Open woods, clearings and barrens in dry sandy soils[8]
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6 - 8cm with a heel, late summer in a sandy soil in a frame[1].

Cultivation

Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny open position[1]. Tolerates a pH range from 5.5 to 8[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

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

    ↩

  4. 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

  5. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

Edit this page