Achillea Ptarmica
Getting to Know Achillea Ptarmica
Achillea ptarmica, more commonly known as sneezewort, is a very versatile flowering plant. If you are interested in planting this flower, you might want to take a few minutes to learn about the environmental requirements of the achillea ptarmica, as well as some of the uses this plant can provide for you. Understanding the needs of this flower before planting it will ensure that you not only give it the best start possible, but that you can properly maintain it throughout the years to come.
This herbaceous perennial grows in spacious clusters and produces white, button-like flowers. The stem of this plant is quite slender, and it produces dark green leaves that serve many medicinal purposes. You can expect this plant to grow about a foot or two in height, but they can branch out several times towards the top of the plant, where the flowers bloom. Therefore one stem can produce a nice “bunch” of flowers. The stems are slightly hairy to the touch and the leaves usually average about two or three inches in length.
Achillea ptarmica often grows in soft soil near meadows, creeks, and marshes. Many people make the mistake of overwatering their sneezewort because they believe that the soggier the soil, the better. This is incorrect and will likely result in seed or root rot, and ultimately the death of the plant. Yes, sneezewort grows well in moist soil; however the soil must have good drainage. If you aren’t sure whether your garden has adequate drainage, you might consider growing your sneezewort in a planting pot with a support plate. These pots are very common and you likely have seen or used them before. The pot has holes in the bottom, which rests on top of a support plate. In the event that the soil is overwatered, the excess water will simply drain onto the support plate.
That being said, the achillea ptarmica is a fairly tough plant. It can hold up against mild frost and can grow in full or partial sun light. It can even grow in soil that isn’t particularly nutritious, as long as the drainage is efficient. This plant blooms between June and late September/early October; therefore you should plant your achillea ptarmica in the early spring when there is no longer any chance of a hard frost hitting. If you live in a place where the frost can be particularly persistent, you may want to consider planting your sneezewort in a pot that you can easily move inside should the frost hit unexpectedly. This is also particularly useful if the area you live in can become exceedingly hot. The hotter and dryer the weather, the more difficult it can be to accommodate the plant’s need for moist soil.
The uses for this plant are quite surprising! The leaves of this plant can be cleansed and chewed to help relieve the pain of a toothache. The leaves can also be dried out and turned to powder, which may be used as a sneezing powder! (Likely where the name sneezewort came from!) Many report that the leaves may also be cleansed and eaten to help cure joint and muscular aches and pains, upset stomach, diarrhea, wind (gas), nausea, and excessive sleepiness. If the taste of the leaves is too bitter, a tea may be brewed from the leaves and mixed with honey or sugar to ease the tart flavor.
As always, growing herbs for the use of natural remedies can be dangerous if you are unaware of the correct dosage to take. Unfortunately, there currently is not a medically approved dosage guide for sneezewort available. If you are considering using this plant to treat an illness, it is highly recommended that you consult a doctor before attempting to administer a home remedy.
Aside from expressing caution when using this plant as a healing agent, you can enjoy the beauty of the dainty white flowers in your garden or use them to spruce up a well-sunned room! So remember, keep your achillea ptarmica in a sunny spot with light but moist soil with good drainage. Follow these maintenance rules and you are sure to get many years of enjoyment from this pretty plant.