Tanacetum balsamita
Alecost
a perennial member of the Tanacetum genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Tanacetum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.9 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw or used as a flavouring in soups, beer etc[4][11][1][9][13][2][3]. They can be chopped and added sparingly to salads[3]. They have a very pleasant aroma, but can be overpowering in the food if you are not careful[K]. The leaves were at one time widely used in brewing beer, before being superseded by hops (Humulus lupulus)[7]. The whole leaves can be laid in cake trays to flavour the cake whilst it is baking[3]. The flower petals are used for conserves[3]. A delicious tea is made from the dried leaves[1][6][3].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
- 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.
Alecost is seldom used in herbal medicine, though it does have a beneficial effect upon the digestive system[8]. The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, digestive and laxative[11][1][7]. They have been used internally as an aperient in the treatment of dysentery, and as a remedy for liver and gall bladder complaints[7]. Externally, they have been used as a salve to treat burns and insect stings[7][8]. They are considered to be virtually obsolete in modern herbalism[11][7].
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Laxative
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant was traditionally used for its insecticidal properties[5]. The dried leaves retain their fragrance well and so are used in pot-pourri[11][7], they are also used as a strewing herb[5].
- Product or use
- Insecticide
- Product or use
- Pot-pourri
- Product or use
- Strewing
Environment
- Range
- Europe to W. Asia.
- Habitat
- An introduced weed of roadsides in eastern N. America[12].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- 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.
The seed is seldom produced in Britain[11]. If seed is obtained it would probably be best sown in a cold frame in early spring. 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 or autumn[11]. Very easy, it can be done successfully at almost any time of the year. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Basal cuttings in late spring[K]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it prefers a sunny warm position[13] in a dry soil[1][10] but thrives under most conditions[11]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.0 to 7.6. The leaves emit a soft balsamic odour[11]. The sub-species T. balsamita tomentosum is called the camphor plant because of its camphor-scented foliage[7]. Plants produces lot of leaves but no flowers when grown in the shade[11], though this is an advantage when the plant is being grown for its useful leaves[5]. Alecost used to be commonly grown in the herb garden but it has fallen out of favour in recent times[11].
References
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00