Practical
Plants

Uvularia grandiflora

Fairybells

a perennial member of the Uvularia genus in the family Uvulariaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 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.

The root is analgesic[8]. It is used as a poultice or salve in the treatment of toothaches, boils, swellings, wounds and ulcers[6][8]. As I was typing this report (29/01/95), Geoffrey Smith on Radio 4's 'Gardeners Question Time' spoke about it and said that it was the best poultice for boils that he knew of[K]. An infusion of the root has been used to treat backaches and, mixed with oil, has been used as a salve on sore muscles[8]. A tea made from the roots is used as a wash in the treatment of rheumatic pains[6].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - South Quebec to Georgia, west to Arkansas to North Dakota.
Habitat
Rich woods[6].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
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 - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[5]. Sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. 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 after the plants die down in late summer. It is best carried out in early spring before the plants flower[4]. 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 following spring.

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, it requires a cool moist shady position and a light sandy soil[1][9][2]. Likes plenty of humus in the soil[2]. Grows well in a woodland garden and in the rock garden[5]. Plants grow much taller in rich soils and then succeed in the herbaceous border[6]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[3]. A very ornamental species, there are some named varieties[7].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

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  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. 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↩4

  7. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

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