Practical
Plants

Packera aurea

Golden Groundsel

a perennial member of the Packera genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Packera
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.8 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

Golden groundsel is a medicinal plant that is deserving of greater attention[8]. This species was widely used by N. American Indians to treat various complaints of the female reproductive system, and also to ease childbirth[6]. Whilst often stated to be completely safe to use, recent research has found that the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that, in isolation, can cause liver damage and so this remedy can no longer be recommended for internal use[6][7]. The roots and leaves are abortifacient, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, pectoral, stimulant and uterine tonic[8][10][1][3][5]. It is used externally in the treatment of vaginal discharge[6]. A tea made from the plant was frequently used by the N. American Indians as a remedy for various female troubles, including the pain of childbirth[3][4]. Pharmacologists have not reported any uterine effects, but the plant does contain an essential oil (inuline) plus the alkaloids senecine and senecionine (which are poisonous to grazing animals)[4]. The plant is harvested before flowering and the roots are harvested in the autumn, both are dried for later use[6].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Uterine tonic

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Florida, west to Texas.
Habitat
Rich calcareous woods and bottoms and upland swamps[9]. Damp thickets and prairies[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very 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 greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[2]. Root cuttings in early spring[2].

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in a sunny position in most moderately fertile well-drained soils[2]. Prefers a damp to wet soil and also succeeds in partial shade[6]. Succeeds in the wild garden though it is invasive[2]. This species is cultivated in parts of Russia for use in the pharmaceutical industry[6]. A polymorphic species, there are many named varieties[9].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  5. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

Edit this page