Elecampane - My Golden Herbal Garden

Botanical Name: Inula helenium

Benefits & Uses of Elecampane: Antimicrobial, Asthma, Cough, Digestion, Lungs

Parts used of Elecampane: Roots

Parts Best used: Dried or Fresh

Ways to Prepare Elecampane: Decoction, Syrup, Tea, Tincture

Culinary Uses: When opting to utilize elecampane for medicinal purposes, it is commonly made into a tea, tincture, or even candy form.

Growing
Elecampane

Plant Type:
Perennial

Sprouts in:
12-30 Days

Days to Maturity:
120 days

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun to Partial Shade

Plant Zone:
4-9

Ideal Temperature:
65-90°F

Soil Ph:
Between 6.0 and 7.0

Planting Depth:
Surface Sow

Planting Space:
24"

Plant Height:
7'

When To Plant:
6-8 weeks before the last frost

Bee Pollinator

Container Friendly

Start Seeds Indoors

Deer Resistant

Plant Maintenance: Low

Frost Hardy: Elecampane are Freeze Tolerant (Vegetables that can endure freezing temperatures between 26°F and 28°F. They are the champions of cold resilience.)

When to plant outdoors: Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have 2-3 sets of leaves

Easiest To Grow From: Seed

Common Pests: Elecampane is not significantly affected by any major pests or diseases.

Growing Tips: To prevent the plant from growing too tall, it is advisable to either stake it or prune it regularly.

Fertilizing: No fertilizer needed.

Seeds & Companion Plants

Ease of Growing from Seed: Easy

Seeds can be saved. How To Save Seeds: Allow the flower to completely mature and dry on the plant, then clip off the flowerheads. Gently crush the flowerheads in your hands over the container to separate them.

Planting Veggie Companions:
Tomatoes Potatoes

Planting Herb Companions:
Echinacea Goldenrod

Bad Planting Companions: Fennel, Dill

More Detail on Companions:
- Tomatoes: Elecampane can help repel nematodes
- Potatoes: Elecampane can help deter potato beetles and other pests

Harvesting & Preserving

Pruning Tips: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent self-seeding.

When to Harvest: Harvest Elecampane roots in the fall of the second year’s growth or in early spring of the next year.

Harvesting Tips: The roots of elecampane spread out horizontally from the plant's base, making them simple to gather from the damp soil in which they thrive. It's important to ensure that each root you collect is connected to its respective plant, as nearby tree roots or other root systems can easily become intertwined with the elecampane roots you’re trying to harvest. The roots must be cleaned, peeled, and diced.

**When foraging for wild herbs, be sure to pay attention to where you are getting it from. Be cautious about harvesting plants grown in potentially contaminated areas like roadsides, driveways, unfamiliar terrain, and areas that may have been sprayed with herbicides.