Teucrium scorodonia
L.
Wood Sage
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(c) Mike Lusk, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mike Lusk
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(c) Les, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
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(c) Gábor Csillag, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gábor Csillag
Description
Teucrium scorodonia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Edible Uses
Condiment. The plant resembles hops in taste and flavour. An infusion of the leaves and flowers is used as a hop substitute for flavouring beer in some areas. It is said to clear the beer more quickly than hops, but imparts too much colour to the brew.
Medicinal Uses
Alterative Appetizer Astringent Carminative Diaphoretic Diuretic Emmenagogue Skin Tonic Vulnerary. The herb is alterative, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic and vulnerary. It is harvested in July and can be dried for later use. The herb is often used in domestic herbal practice in the treatment of skin afflictions, diseases of the blood, fevers, colds etc. It is an appetizer of the first order and is equal to gentian root as a tonic.
Distribution
W. Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Germany.
Where It Grows
EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway (south), Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland (west), Former Yugoslavia (west), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Portugal (Madeira Islands), Tunisia
Cultivation
An easily grown plant, succeeding in any moderately good soil and almost any situation. Once established, this is a drought resistant plant, succeeding in dry shade.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they are large enough. Otherwise, grow them on in a cold frame for the winter and plant them out in the following spring. Division in early spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
