Top 50 Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants to create an Apothecary-style garden to help our pollinators
List Curated by Thomas McBride From research data collected and collated at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
NB: Butterflies and Moths are not studied at the NBGW so any data on nectar plants beneficial for them is taken from Butterfly Conservation Introduction At the National Botanic Garden of Wales, we feel it is important to recognise the rich history of botany and plant science we have in Wales and around the UK. One such way to display this is through a living museum of plants once used, and some still used, to treat various ailments and maintain good health. These medicinal plants can be grown together to create a physic garden or apothecaries garden; such as the one we have here. Apothecaries were herbal medicine specialists before the event of modern medicine. The apothecaries garden is split into sections depending on the usage of the plants. If you would also like to create one, you can use this model to help you. Almost all the selected plants are found in our Apothecaries Garden and many are also culinary herbs or ornamentals found elsewhere in the garden. Most of
the plants used are native to or naturalised in Western Europe. Garden Apothecaries The The Apothecaries Garden Muscular-Skeletal Digestive
Ear, Nose & Throat Nervous
Glandular Circulatory Urinary
Welsh Natives Cutaneous (Skin) (Used by local Apothecaries) The Circulatory System The Respiratory System The Circulatory system comprises The Respiratory system comprises the Lungs, the Heart, blood and blood vessels; Trachea (Windpipe) and connects directly to arteries, veins and capillaries. Plants the nose, mouth and also circulatory system. Plants used to treat respiratory used to treat this bodily system were problems were usually taken primarily for heart conditions or as a vapour over boiling water associated with blood letting. Few and breathed in; in order for are used in modern medicine but their oils to travel directly into the active ingredient in foxglove, the windpipe. Herbs to treat ear, nose and throat conditions Digitalin, is still used in heart Achillea millefolium Primula vulgaris were classed separately. medicine today Digitalis purpurea Pulsatilla vulgaris for its potent Laurus nobilis Salvia sclarea Lavandula angustifolia affects. Thymus vulgaris Melissa officinalis Verbascum nigrum
Valeriana officinalis Viola tricolor
Respiratory Plants Plants Respiratory included: Circulatory Plants Circulatory Plants included: The Nervous System The Cutaneous System The nervous system comprises of the brain, The cutaneous system is made up of epidermis spinal cord and nerves (neurons). Plants used (visible skin) and dermis (the skin underlayer). to treat nervous conditions were usually Plant-based treatments used on skin were associated with pain relief and the calming of extremely varied from soothing burns, acne & nerves. They were often taken orally, mixed with rashes to attempting to treat leprosy and some sort of alcohol. Many are still used today measles. Today, plant-based skin treatments are to aid in calmness such as camomile and lavender. as popular as ever but are much more commonly Others are much more potent such as opium used for anti-ageing and maintaining clear, poppy; the plant by which morphine supple skin and treating acne or scars. and other opioids are derived from. Chamaemelum nobile These are powerful nervous-blockers Bistorta officinalis Hyssopus officinalis Borago officinalis used in pain relief. Lavandula angustifolia Calendula officinalis Origanum vulgare Chamaemelum nobile Melissa officinalis Papaver somniferum Hamamelis mollis Pulsatilla vulgaris
Tanacetum parthenium Hypericum perforatum Stachys palustris Nervous Plants Plants Nervous included: Valeriana officinalis Cutaneous Plants included: Malva sylvestris Tanacetum vulgare The Urinary System The Digestive System The Urinary system is made up of the Kidneys, The Digestive system comprises of the oesophagus, Ureters, Bladder and Urethra; which terminates in stomach, liver, gall bladder, small and large or by the sexual organs in the groin region. intestine and pancreas. It is responsible for the Medicinal plants were regularly used as diuretics digestion of food. Many edible plants were used to increase urine and decrease its concentration to treat digestive issues as they could easily be added which is still an effective way to treat infections when to meals and herbal teas such as mint, lemon balm or coupled with drinking plenty of water. Herbs for the fennel. A common digestive-aid used today is ginger urinary system were also used to treat bladder pain, but this is not easily grown in the UK. Many are still incontinence and even wounds sustained through taken as dietary supplements for their natural ability childbirth and other problems relating Achillea millefolium to calm bowel spasms or laxative effects. Althaea officinalis to the reproductive system. Althaea officinalis Artemisia absinthium Hyssopus officinalis Oenothera biennis A popular example Echinacea purpurea of a diuretic herb is Eupatorium cannabinum Chaenomeles speciosa Inula helenium Origanum vulgare the dandelion. Due Origanum vulgare Eupatorium cannabinum Malva sylvestris Rosmarinus officinalis to their weed-status Filipendula ulmaria Rosa gallica Melissa officinalis Sambucus nigra and ability to spread Foeniculum vulgare quickly however, Sanguisorba officinalis Mentha spicata Tagetes patula they haven’t been Urinary Plants included: Digestive Digestive Plants included: Hamamelis mollis Mentha suaveolens Tanacetum vulgare included in the list. Thymus vulgaris The Muscular-Skeletal System The Otorhinolaryngic System The muscular system, made up of muscles, A complicated collective way to refer to ears, nose tendons, joints and ligaments, allows for and throat, this system was probably the most widely movement, and is directly connected to the treated with medicinal plants through history. skeletal system, which is our bones. Plants Relieving flu and cold symptoms has always been in this category were used to relieve back Some of the plants used for reliving important. pain and other muscular problems, were symptoms have mucolytic properties such used to aid in calcium uptake for keeping as mint, rosemary and also pineapple; bones strong and may also have be used to which we cannot grow outside in the UK quicken recovery after physical trauma such unfortunately! Others have anti-inflammatory properties which as broken bones or pulled ligaments. Muscular-Skeletal Plants included: naturally relieve irritation. Some even have antibacterial Alchemilla mollis Lavandula angustifolia Althaea officinalis properties which can help Artemisia absinthium Origanum vulgare Chamaemelum nobile with bacterial infections.
Calendula officinalis Rosmarinus officinalis Plants included: Echinaceae purpurea Others help relieve swollen Eupatorium cannabinum* Sambucus nigra Hyssopus officinalis glands such as: Filipendula ulmaria Valeriana officinalis Inula helenium Artemisia absinthium
*Eupatorium may be sometimes known as ‘Boneset’ Viburnum opulus Otorhinolaryngic Rosmarinus officinalis & Borago officinalis Map Maps depict the native area of the plant (in green) Guide to using these pages: They also show areas the plant is naturalised (in purple)
Latin Binomial All maps shown Name are derived from ‘Plants of the Common World Online’; English courtesy of Kew Name Gardens
Flowering Period Photograph (this is when it is good of the plant for pollinators!) in flower
Plant Family
Insect groups known to Growing habit favour the and mature size nectar of this of the plant plant
Useful knowledge or warnings about the plant RHS AGM cultivars of this species (or a related species occasionally) i Key to these Pages Warnings
Additional information on these garden plants
This plant would The flowers be suitable for and/or leaves meadow-style have a Pleasant Plant tissue is highly planting scent toxic if ingested
The plant has edible parts that are Sap may cause irritation Plant is often used in commonly eaten or (Wash hands after touching traditional Herbal Remedies used in cooking or avoid touching)
ii Temperature RHS Hardiness Scale
Some of the plants listed in our Top 200 are not fully H1a - Above 15ºC hardy in all or some parts of the United Kingdom. H1b - Minimum 10ºC Plants without a thermometer symbol are fully hardy in the severest UK Winter; equating to H5 or hardier. H1c - Minimum 5ºC Plants with a coloured thermometer symbol are hardy to varying degrees as follows: H2 - Minimum 1ºC
H3 - Minimum -5ºC
H4 - Minimum -10ºC
H5 - Minimum -15ºC Almost Hardy Half-Hardy Not Frost Hardy Not Hardy (H4) (H3) (H2) (H1) iii Pollinators Our data on pollinators has been collected from studies spanning over a decade. Pollinator symbols appear when plants are proven to be good nectar (a) (b) plants for certain insects. It should be noted that all bee and hoverfly data is ours but lepidoptera data is taken from Butterfly Conservation.
Our data spans a wide range of different insect species. For simplicity, these species have been condensed into six easy icons to represent them: (c) (d) a) Honeybees c) Bumblebees e) Moths b) Hoverflies d) Butterflies f) Solitary Bees (Includes Moths)
(e) (f) iv N. America & Achillea millefolium Eurasia Common Yarrow
‘Red Velvet’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Lansdorferglut’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Nayuki Im 1 Alcea rosea Anatolia Common Hollyhock
None Summer .
Malvaceae Mallow Family
6ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr by Bernard Spragg 2 Alchemilla mollis Europe Garden Lady’s Mantle
-Species- Early Summer - Early Autumn
Rosaceae Rose Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) J Mark Dodds 3 Althaea officinalis Afro-Eurasia Marsh Mallow
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Malvaceae Mallow Family
6ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr by Gertjan van Noord Marshlands 4 Artemisia absinthium Afro-Eurasia Wormwood
Related Species: Summer . A. caucasica
Asteraceae Daisy Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Ettore Balocchi 5 Bistorta officinalis Eurasia Common Bistort
‘Superba’ Midsummer - Mid Autumn
Polygonaceae Knotweed Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Armin S Kowalski 6 Borago officinalis Mediterranean Common Borage
None Late Spring - Midsummer
Boraginaceae Borage Family
2ft Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Stenzel 7 Buxus sempervirens Afro-Eurasia Common Box
‘Elegantissima’ Spring . ‘Latifolia maculata’
Buxaceae Box Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Sten Porse 8 Calendula officinalis Iberia Common Marigold
‘Fiesta Gitana’ Early Summer - Early Autumn
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Annual
Photograph © Thomas McBride 9 Chaenomeles speciosa Chinese Quince
China
‘Geisha Girl’ Spring . ‘Moerloosei’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Stanze Bla 10 Chamaemelum nobile Mediterranean & The British Isles Common Camomile
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Melanie Shaw 11 Cotinus coggygria Eurasia Smoke Bush
‘Ancot’ ‘Young Lady’ Summer . ‘Royal Purple’
Anacardiaceae Cashew Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 12 Digitalis purpurea Europe Common Foxglove
‘The Shirley’ Summer . ‘Dalmatian series’
Plantaginaceae Plantain Family
5ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Joachim Blattboldt 13 Echinacea purpurea N. America Purple Coneflower
‘Elbrook’ Midsummer - Mid Autumn ‘Ruby Giant’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Álvaro Reguly 14 Eupatorium cannabinum Eurasia Hemp-Agrimony
Related species: Eupatorium maculatum Late Summer ‘Orchard Dene’ - Early Autumn ‘Purple Bush’ Asteraceae Daisy Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter O’Connor 15 Filipendula ulmaria Eurasia Meadowsweet
Related species: Filipendula rubra Midsummer ‘Venusta’ - Early Autumn
Rosaceae Rose Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph by Thomas McBride 16 Foeniculum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Common Fennel
‘Florence Fino’ Summer . ‘Florence Orion’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Katy Wrathall 17 Hamamelis mollis Chinese Witch-hazel
China
‘Jermyns Gold’ Mid Winter - Early Spring ‘Wisley Supreme’
Hamamelidaceae Witch-hazel Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Wendy Cutler 18 Hypericum perforatum Afro-Eurasia Perforate St John’s Wort
None Summer .
Hypericaceae St Johns Wort Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 19 Hyssopus officinalis Afro-Eurasia Herb Hyssop
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Lotus Johnson 20 Inula helenium Eurasia Elecampane
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Munt 21 Laurus nobilis Mediterranean Bay Tree, Laurel
‘Aurea’ Spring . f. angustifolia
Lauraceae Laurel Family
Large Shrub
* Not to be confused with a shrub, often referred to as Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jeremy Cherfas a laurel, which is actually a poisonous species of cherry. Its flowers are also white but without yellow pollen and occur22 on spikes. Lavandula angustifolia Mediterranean English Lavender
‘Folgate’ ‘Hidcote’ Summer . ‘Miss Katherine’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Taylor 23 Malva sylvestris Afro-Eurasia Common Mallow
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Malvaceae Mallow Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Steve Chilton 24 Melissa officinalis Eurasia Lemon Balm
None Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gertjan van Noord 25 Mentha spicata Eurasia Spear Mint
None Early Summer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Radu Chibzii 26 Europe & Mentha suaveolens N. Africa Apple Mint
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Aroche 27 Nicandra physalodes S. America Shoo-fly Plant
None Late Spring - Mid Autumn
Solanaceae Potato Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 28 Oenothera biennis N. America Common Evening-Primrose
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Onagraceae Willowherb Family
5ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 29 Origanum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Oregano Plant
‘Aureum’ Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gustav Og 30 Papaver somniferum Mediterranean Opium Poppy
None Summer .
Papaveraceae Poppy Family
* 3ft Annual
* Dry Seeds edible (‘poppy seeds’), all other parts of the plant are poisonous Photograph from Flickr (CC) Aaron Stidwell 31 Primula vulgaris Europe Common Primrose
‘Taigetos’ Late Winter - Mid Spring Ssp. sibthorpii
Primulaceae Primrose Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 32 Pulsatilla vulgaris Europe Common Pasqueflower
- Species - Spring .
Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family
Alpine Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Rainer Stropek 33 Rosa gallica Eurasia Rosa-mundi, French Rose
var. officinalis Summer . ‘Versicolor’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters 34 Rosmarinus officinalis Mediterranean Rosemary Plant
‘Sissinghurst Blue’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Miss Jessop’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Amanda Slater 35 Salvia sclarea Mediterranean Clary Sage
None Late Spring - Midsummer
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Biennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Buendia22 36 Sambucus nigra Eurasia Common Elder
f. laciniata Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Thundercloud’
Adoxaceae Moschatel Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 37 N. America & Sanguisorba officinalis Eurasia Great Burnet
‘Tanna’ Summer .
Rosaceae Rose Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Natural England 38 Stachys byzantina Middle East Lamb’s Ear
None Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Muse Seeker 39 Stachys palustris Eurasia Marsh Woundwort
None Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) ekenitr 40 Symphytum officinale Eurasia Common Comfrey
None Late Spring - Midsummer
Boraginaceae Borage Family
5ft Perennial
This plant will spread so allow it plenty of room and do not plant Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gail Hampshire in a herbaceous border. Leaves rot down to produce41 rich compost Tagetes patula N. America French Marigold
‘Safari series’ Late Spring - Early Autumn ‘Honeycomb’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
1ft Annual
NB: Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy Photograph from Flickr (CC) Taco Witte 42 Tanacetum parthenium Middle East Common Feverfew
Potentially ‘Aureum’ Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Cheryl Binstock 43 Tanacetum vulgare Eurasia Common Tansy
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 44 Thymus vulgaris Europe Common Thyme
‘Silver Queen’ Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
1ft Trailing Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Winder 45 Valeriana officinalis Eurasia Garden Valerian
None Summer .
Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gail Hampshire 46 Verbascum nigrum Eurasia Black Mullein
‘Cotswold series’ Early Summer - Early Autumn ‘Tropic Sun’
Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family
4ft Biennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 47 Veronicastrum virginicum N. America Culver’s Root
‘Album’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Lavendelturm’
Plantaginaceae Plantain Family
6ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Anna Aoss 48 Viburnum opulus Eurasia Guelder-rose
‘Compactum’ ‘Rosea’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Xanthocarpum’
Adoxaceae Moschatel Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Fred F 49 Viola tricolor Eurasia Heartsease
‘Jackanapes’ Late Spring - Early Autumn ‘Blue Moonlight’
Violaceae Violet Family
1ft Biennial (or Perennial)
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Ettore Balocchi 50