Agrimony

(Sticklewort) A welcome inheritance from the European gardens of the Middle Ages, agrimony is a hardy perennial that has naturalized to North America. Perfect for meadow or butterfly gardens, the whole plant is fragrant. Appropriate for mid or back of the border plantings, the slender arching green stems producing small yellow flowers from early summer onward. The tea has a great reputation as a wash for healing wounds and skin eruptions. It was the origin of the French herbal lotion eau de arquebasade, one of the first treatments for gunshot wounds. Some studies have indicated it may promote clotting. Today it is primarily known for its astringent and tonic qualities. Internally, the tea is thought to be useful for liver, kidney and bladder problems. It produces yellow, gold and green dyes with very good fastness and contains tannins, making it appropriate for treating leathers. The seed can be tricky to germinate, but once established the plant is tenacious