Practical
Plants

Pilosella officinarum

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.2 m
Spread
0.2 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

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.

Mouse-ear hawkweed relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tubes, stimulates the cough reflex and reduces the production of catarrh[8]. This combination of actions makes the herb effective against all manner of respiratory problems including asthma, wheeziness, whooping cough, bronchitis and other congested and chronic coughs[8]. The herb is mildly astringent, cholagogue, diaphoretic, strongly diuretic, expectorant and tonic[9][10][11][6][4]. The fresh plant is antibiotic[10]. The plant has been regarded as a specific for whooping cough[9] and is also used in treating other problems of the respiratory system such as asthma, bronchitis and influenza[7]. The herb is also taken in the treatment of enteritis, influenza, pyelitis and cystitis[11]. It is occasionally used externally in the treatment of small wounds and cuts[10].The plant is harvested in May and June whilst in flower and can be used fresh or dried[9][7].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Temperate and subarctic Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.
Habitat
Upland pastures, meadows, heaths, banks, on walls etc, usually on dry soil[10][11][3]. It is also found as a weed of lawns[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
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 and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring or autumn[7]. Division in spring or autumn[7]. Very easy, 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.

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[5]. Prefers a well-drained to dry poor soil in sun or partial shade[7]. A common lawn plant[1], it is also a good bee and butterfly plant[2][5]. It grows well on the top of dry walls[5]. A strongly stoloniferous plant, it can be very invasive[5].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  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

  10. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

Edit this page