Mertensia ciliata
Mountain Bell
a perennial member of the Mertensia genus in the family Boraginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Mertensia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.8 m
- Spread
- 0.3 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Flowers - raw[3]. Leaves - raw or cooked[3]. The leaves are rather hairy and are not so nice when eaten raw[3].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- 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.
The plant is galactogogue[6]. An infusion has been used to increase the milk flow of nursing mothers[6]. An infusion of the powdered root has been used to relieve the itching caused by smallpox and measles[6].
- Product or use
- Antipruritic
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
Environment
- Range
- South-western N. America - Oregon to New Mexico.
- Habitat
- Streambanks, wet meadows, damp thickets and wet cliffs from the foothills to high elevations in the mountains[7][3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- 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 - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1][5]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Protect from direct sunlight[5]. 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. Division, with care, in early spring or autumn[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Easily grown in an ordinary garden soil with some shade[1][2]. Requires a moist peaty soil in full sun or light shade[4]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[4]. A very ornamental plant[1].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00