Arnica Root Arnica montana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AR-nih-kah mon-TAY-nah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Leopards Bane is a perennial herb in the aster family native to Europe. It grows .5 to 2 feet tall with basal downy leaves and flowers that occur May to Aug. The yellow-orange ray flowers surround the yellow disc florets followed by achenes.
It tolerates most soils if they are well-drained in full sun to partial shade but prefers slightly alkaline moist sandy loams. It is not drought tolerant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Arnica Acaulis
- Arnica Acaulis
- Arnica Acaulis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Arnica Acaulis
- Arnica Acaulis
- Arnica Acaulis
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arnica
- Species:
- montana
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in herbal medicine for centuries.
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are yellow rays surrounding yellow disc florets in late spring to early summer.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- While basal leaves are clustered, the stem leaves are opposite and simple.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous through dermatitis and ingestion; Poisonous parts: roots and flowers. Symptoms may include: Skin irritation upon contact; after ingestion, heart palpitation, vomiting, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and coma in children.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Helenalin and its esters
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Roots
