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Elecampane - Horse Heal (Inula helenium) Elfdock Horseheal Sunflower Heirloom Herb Flower

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Elecampane - Horse Heal (Inula helenium) Elfdock Horseheal Sunflower Heirloom Herb Flower

Perennial

Height 6 to 10 ft

Amazing! Elecampane is a showy perennial herb grown for its medicinal uses and beautiful yellow sunflower like flowers. Elecampane, also known as Horse-Heal or Elfdock, is a widespread plant species in the sunflower family Asteraceae, and is native to Eurasia from Spain to Xinjiang province in western China, and is now naturalized in parts of North America.

Elecampane is a soothing herb (

demulcent) that has been used to treat coughs associated with bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough; also helps to boost the immune system-research indicates that it is effective against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

It flowers for a long time in July and August, and is highly attractant to bees. Its height, multiple large yellow flowers and robust thick fluffy stems makes it a highly prized and ornamental plant for the garden.

Deer resistant! And, Elecampane makes a great cut flower. Very similar to Heartleaf Oxeye, but differs from Elecampane in that its broader, heart-shaped leaves have green undersides while Elecampane's long spear-shaped leaves have woolly undersides.

  • Full sun to part sun
  • moist well draining soil
  • Sow seeds in the greenhouse in early spring; sow them on the surface or cover very shallowly, so that light can penetrate. Transplant after the 2nd set of leaves appear and after all risk of frost has passed.
  • Germination: within 2 weeks. 
  • OR direct sow outside in mid spring; cover very lightly. Can be done if light frost expected.
  • Harvest: remove seeds from the top of the spent flower heads - hang upside down in a paper bag and let them dry until the small dark seeds can be easily separated from the fluffier bits.
  • Seed Count: 25
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