Elecampane Plant Guide: How to Grow and Care for Elecampane

Elecampane (Inula helenium) is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family. Native to southern and central Europe, central Asia, and the Balkan Peninsula, elecampane has been naturalized in parts of North America. It goes by several other common names such as horse heal, scabwort, velvet dock, elfwort, elfdock, and wild sunflower. Elecampane plants produce vibrant yellow flowers atop tall, thick green stems. The center of the flower head is packed with large seeds that look similar to those of sunflowers.

Elecampane has a long history of being used in herbal medicine and is today used in the production of liqueurs such as absinthe and vermouth. Early accounts of the plant’s medicinal uses appear in several legends involving the Greek mythological character Helen of Troy, who is the source of its botanical name. Greek mythology solidified the plant's rank amongst medicinal plants, and over the centuries, herbalists have used elecampane as an antiseptic, expectorant, diuretic, and immune system booster.

With a few simple tips, it’s relatively easy to grow elecampane from seed.

1. 1. Start elecampane seeds indoors. If you’re planning on germinating your plants in the early spring before the last frost of the season, sow your seeds indoors on a tray with a thin layer of topsoil. Germination should take about two weeks. You can also start your seeds outside so long as the last frost has passed.
2. 2. Plant elecampane seedlings in partial shade. Elecampane thrives in areas with a mix of part shade and bright light, but these plants will tolerate full sun as well.
3. 3. Use well-draining soil. Plant elecampane in a raised bed or area of your garden with well-draining soil and enough room for the plants to grow. Mature plants reach heights of three to six feet and will grow two to three feet wide.
4. 4. Dig a wide enough hole for the root ball. When transplanting, dig a hole that's about twice as wide as the root ball and deep enough so that the base of the plant is level with the ground when placed inside. Gently backfill the hole with soil, and lightly tamp down the soil to remove air pockets.

As a wildflower, elecampane is fairly self-sufficient and doesn't require much maintenance. Keep these tips in mind when growing elecampane.

1. 1. Water elecampane regularly. Keep the soil moist but not soaked. Water your plant when the soil is dry at a depth of two to three inches.
   
2. 2. Use organic compost. Elecampane does not need fertilizer in order to grow. If you plan to harvest the elecampane root for medicinal uses, apply a top-dressing of organic compost in the spring.
3. 3. Harvest and propagate elecampane in the fall. After harvesting the root, you can propagate elecampane plants by removing two inches of a healthy root that contains a bud or eye. Plant the cuttings a foot deep and a foot apart.

Elecampane is non-toxic; however, ingesting large quantities could make you sick. Exercise caution when making tinctures or teas with dried roots, and consult your doctor before consuming homemade herbal preparations.

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