Wholesale Elecampane

01.
A Bit of Botany

a little botanical information on elecampane

description
Elecampane, a member of the Asteraceae family, is a rather rigid herb, the stem of which attains a height of from 90 cm to 150 cm (3 to 5 feet); the leaves are large and toothed, the lower ones stalked, the rest embracing the stem; the flowers are yellow, 5 cm (2 inches) broad, and have many rays, each three-notched at the extremity. The root is thick, branching and mucilaginous, and has a warm, bitter taste and a camphor-like odor with sweet floral undertones.

common names & nomenclature
The species name helenium may be named after Helen of Troy, as it is thought that she held a sprig of this plant in her hand as she left Sparta. Other stories say that the plant grew where her tears fell.

Also known as:
horse-heal, horse-elder, marchalan, velvet dock, yellow starwort, scabwort, wild sunflower, alant, elfdock, elfwort

02.
Where in the World

habitat and range for elecampane

Elecampane is native to southern Europe and temperate Asia and introduced to China and the U.S. It is common in many parts of Great Britain, and ranges throughout central and Southern Europe and in Asia as far eastwards as the Himalayas. It is naturalized in North America.

03.
Cultivation & Harvesting

considerations for growing and harvesting elecampane

climate
Elecampane grows in fields, meadows, woodland edges, waysides, waste places, and copses, often in shade.

soil
It grows well in ordinary garden soil, though it grows best in a good loamy soil.

growing
Sow seeds in spring, either in a cold frame or directly into the garden soil outside. Root divisions can be made in spring or fall as long as each piece contains a growth bud, grow in the greenhouse and then plant outside in

harvesting
Roots are best harvested in the autumn from plants that are two to three years old, and it can be cut into small pieces and dried for later use. When first dug up, the roots smell like ripe bananas, but as they dry they take on the scent of violets.

preserving
Store dried root pieces in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

04.
The Rest of the Story

elecampane history, folklore, literature and more