ELECAMPANE SEEDS

Inula helenium

Powerfully medicinal and extraordinary in stature, Elecampane is a magical plant that deserves a place in every garden. It is extremely hardy (to at least zone 3) and requires only part sun and relatively moist soil. Will tolerate full sun in consistently moist soils. Tentacle-like roots should be harvested for medicinal use in autumn of the second year.

Growing to 6' tall, Elecampane features huge sunflowery blooms with elegant thread-like petals. The huge broad leaves are suitable for mulch and generate copious amounts of nutritious green matter for your compost heap.

Unfortunately, Elecampane is susceptible to slug damage. Try broadcasting coarse horticultural grit in a wide circle around your plants, especially young seedlings, to discourage slugs and snails.

Farmacie Isolde strongly recommends thorough research of this very gentle yet highly effective medicinal plant, especially for use in treating non-oncological diseases affecting the lungs.

If not harvested for medicinal use, Elecampane will continue to bloom for several years and will self-sow, possibly to an invasive degree in moist places that do not also host slugs.

Elecampane seeds are easy to germinate: sow seeds just below surface of moist soil, pressing gently to keep snug; kept warm and moist, seeds should germinate within two weeks. Grow on in individual 3" pots in not-too-bright light (leaves will scorch). Transplant to larger pots as necessary until after the last frost. Elecampane prefers moist soil and part shade.

Packet contains at least 50 seeds.