Common Agrimony [Agrimonia eupatoria]

The Perennial agrimony is a time-honored spice, tea, and medicinal plant, often used as agrimony extract to treat many ailments. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is drought-tolerant and winter-hardy, with apricot-scented yellow flowers in summer. Ideal for direct sowing, no pot cultivation, sowing spring-autumn-winter, good for mixed culture, harvesting leaves and flowers.

 Description 
Common agrimony is a perennial and time-honored spice, tea, and medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine since ancient times. This effective wild plant grows wild in calcareous areas along sunny roadsides and bush edges, and grows wherever the grass is rarely mown or grazed. The robust plant establishes itself easily in gardens and spreads via the burrs produced by the yellow flowers, which catch on the fur of animals and thus travel great distances. Its flowers spread a wonderful apricot fragrance in early and mid-summer. This deciduous perennial has an upright habit and feathery foliage with mid-green, toothed leaves. In ancient Greece, the wild plant was sacred to Pallas Athena, and in the Middle Ages it was used to treat liver and spleen diseases, gingivitis, dog bites, worms, and skin conditions. Its healing powers were already mentioned by Pliny, Galen, and Avicenna. Today, extracts of the medicinal herb's components are used in pharmacology due to their antiviral and antibacterial properties. Agrimony extract has a proven diuretic effect, which is why it is also used for kidney inflammation. In homeopathy, it is used to treat bronchitis. The leaves and flowers are edible, used in infusions and tinctures, and also serve as a spice. The plants have very low moisture requirements and prefer sandy, loamy, humus-rich, and calcareous soils. They are an excellent bee pasture for preserving biodiversity, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

 General information 
Plant family: Rosaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 120 days
Plant height approx.: 150 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Low
Water requirements: Low
Winter hardiness: Up to -17°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich sandy loam soil

pH value: 6.5 to 8

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark and cold germinator
Sowing depth: 1-3 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 5-10 °C
Germination time: 14-21 days
Plant and row spacing: 40x50 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Wild grasses, Milfoil yarrow, Sage, Thyme
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is recommended from October to March. The ideal location for the plants is sunny to partially shaded.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing is recommended from October to March. The ideal location for the plants is sunny to partially shaded.

 General recommendations 
The seeds require approximately 3-4 weeks of exposure to cold temperatures at 2°C, followed by warmer temperatures to break dormancy. This can be achieved through artificial stratification in the fridge. Direct sowing is recommended. After germination, thin the plants to the specified plant spacing. Requires nutrient-poor, calcareous, humus-rich, sandy loam soil.
Common agrimony does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
The flowering herb is harvested from June to September, with the July harvest being particularly rich in active ingredients. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds or root cuttings.

 Plant care 
During long dry periods, it's advisable to give the plants additional water. Fertilization is not necessary.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Agrimonia eupatoria
English names: Common Agrimony
German names: Gewöhnlicher Odermennig, Kleiner Odermennig, Gemeiner Odermennig, Ackerkraut, Ackerblume
Portuguese names: Agrimônia, Erva agrimónia, Erva eupatória
Spanish names:
French names: Aigremoine eupatoire

 Origin 
Country: Germany