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'Viper's Bugloss'
Echium vulgare 

[Ex. Hertfordshire]

Boraginaceae: upright biennial covered in reddish bristles to 80cm. growing in dry grassland, manly on sandy and calcareous soils, often near the coast. The flowers are funnel-shaped, bright blue with protruding purplish stamens, which resemble viper’s tongues, flowers arranged in tall spikes from May-September. Sharp spikes protect the rough seeds. Widespread and common in England and wales, but fairly scarce elsewhere in the country. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to Spain, the Urals and Western Asia.

Viper's bugloss was once considered to be a preventative and remedy for viper bites, it is related to borage, Borago officinalis, and has many similar actions, especially in its sweat-inducing and diuretic effects. In recent times, however, it has fallen out of use, partly due to lack of interest in its medicinal potential and partly to its content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are toxic in isolation. The leaves and flowering stems are antitussive, aphrodisiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and vulnerary. An infusion of the plant is taken internally as a diuretic and in the treatment of fevers, headaches, chest conditions.

Echium vulgare make very good bee plants.

Sow seeds from February-May or August-November in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c. If the seed is in short supply then its best sown in pots in a cold frame.

Seeds Harvested August 2014.

Approx. 200+ seeds £1.50

Echium vulgare

'Couch Grass'
Elymus repens 

Poaceae: a tough, creeping perennial that grows to 1.2m. Found on cultivated and disturbed ground. The flowers are, stuff, unbranched inflorescence with many-flowered, yellowish-green spikelets, blooming from June-August. Widespread and common. Native to most of Europe, including Britain, N. Africa, Siberia and N. America.

The roots can be cooked, dried and ground into a powder, then used with wheat when making bread. Although thin and stringy, the roots contain starch and enzymes and are quite sweet. When boiled for a long time to break down the leathery membrane, a syrup can be made from the roots and this is sometimes brewed into a beer. The roasted root is a coffee substitute. Young leaves and shoots - eaten raw in spring salads. A slightly sweet flavour, though quickly becoming very fibrous, they are rather less than wonderful. The juice from these shoots is sometimes used as a spring tonic.

Couch grass is of considerable value as an herbal medicine, the roots being very useful in the treatment of a wide range of kidney, liver and urinary disorders. They have a gentle remedial effect which is well-tolerated by the body and has no side-effects. This plant is also a favourite medicine of domestic cats and dogs, who will often eat quite large quantities of the leaves. The roots have antiphlogistic, aperient, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, lithontripic and tonic properties.

An infusion of the whole plant is a good liquid plant feed.
Couch grass can succeed in any soil, though it grows best in light sandy soils. Lightly cover seeds, can be sown anytime of the year. Very easy.


Harvested: 2015.

Currently Unavailable

'Willowherb'
Epilobium angustifolium 

[Ex. Co. Durham]

Currently Unavailable

Epilobium angustifolium 

'Great Willoowherb'
Epilobium hirsutum

[Ex. Co. Durham]

Currently Unavailable

Epilobium hirsutum

'Stork's Bill'
Erodium cicutarium 

Currently Unavailable

Erodium cicutarium

 'Field Eryngo'
Eryngium campestre 

Currently Unavailable

'Sea Holly'
Eryngium maritimum 


'Wallflower'
Erysimum cheiri 


Spindle'
Euonymus europaeus 

'Hemp Agrimony'
Eupatorium cannabinum

[Ex. Suffolk]

Asteraceae: a tall, upright, downy perennial of damp grassland and also scrub. The flowers are dull pinkish lilac, in terminal clusters 3-7cm across, flowering from July-September. The leaves are trifoliate, in opposite pairs up the stem. Common, except in the north of the country. Native to most of Europe, including Britain, to North Africa, western and central Asia.

Hemp agrimony has been employed chiefly as a detoxifying herb for fevers, colds, flu and other viral conditions. It also stimulates the removal of waste products via the kidneys. Due to its content of alkaloids, the plant should only be used under professional supervision. The leaves and flowering tops are alterative, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, febrifuge, purgative and tonic. The plant has a long history of use as a gentle laxative that does not provoke irritation, though excessive doses cause purging and vomiting. A tea made from the dried leaves will give prompt relief if taken at the onset of influenza. Recent research has shown that the plant might have anti-tumour activity, though the plant also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause damage or cancer to the liver.

This is a very good bee plant!

Sow seeds in spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed.

Harvested August 2014.

Approx. 500+ seeds £1.25

Eupatorium cannabinum

'Eyebright'
Euphrasia officinalis 

[Ex. Co. Durham]

Scrophulariaceae: semi-parasitic annual growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in). The plants appearance is extremely variable and 30 or so species are recognised. All grow in undisturbed grassy places. The flowers are whitish (sometimes tinged pink) with purple veins and a yellow throat). Blooming from May-September. Native to Western Europe, including Britain, to Eastern Asia.

The leaves can be eaten raw, and are occasionally used in salads for their slightly bitter flavour.

Eyebright has a long history of herbal use in the treatment of eye problems and is still in current herbal use. It is important that only the correct forms of eyebright, with glandular hairs on the calyx, are used, since other forms do not possess medicinal virtues. Eyebright tightens the mucous membranes of the eye and appears to relieve the inflammation of conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Its ability to counter catarrh means that it is often used for infectious and allergic conditions affecting the eyes, middle ear, sinuses and nasal passage. The whole plant is anti-inflammatory, astringent, digestive, ophthalmic and slightly tonic. It is taken internally in the treatment of catarrh, sinusitis, hay fever, upper respiratory tract infections. As an ophthalmic, an infusion of the plant can be taken internally or used as an eye wash. Alternatively, the diluted juice can be dropped into the eyes. Some caution should be exercised, experimentally it can induce side effects including dim vision. The plant's astringency makes it inappropriate for treating dry or stuffy congestion. The plant can be used externally as a poultice to aid the healing of wounds. Eyebright should be harvested when in flower and can be dried for later use. The dried herb is an ingredient of herbal smoking mixtures, used in the treatment of chronic bronchial colds. A homeopathic remedy is made from the expressed juice of the plant. It is used particularly in the treatment of eye inflammations and colds.

Sow the seed outdoors in situ in early spring amongst grass in a moist but not marshy soil. Semi-parasitic, feeding on the roots of grasses and also on Trifolium pratense and Plantago species.

Harvested 2014.

NOTES: I have never tried to germinate these seeds as yet, so let me know how get on with them.

Euphrasia officinalis

'Eyebright'

Euphrasia rostkoviana 

Currently Unavailable