Gypsywort

Table of Contents

1. Description
2. Origin
3. Uses
4. Culture
5. Sources
6. Thanks to...

Lycopus europaeus
Family: Labiatae

Common names: gypsywort

Description

Gypsywort is a herbaceous perennial that has hairy, square stems with purple dots and grows up to 120 cm high. Leaves are pointed, toothed, and spear-shaped. Young leaves are purple and turn green as they unfold and mature. Flowers are white with purple dots and are borne in clusters in the leaf axils.

Origin

Europe, Northwest Asia: Gypsywort is not an important commercial herb. It has been used as a medicinal plant and was included in the Simcoe herb plot as part of our dye plant collection.

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Uses of Gypsywort and claims

• Culinary: none
• Medicinal: leaves, stems have been used as an astringent, sedative, cardiac tonic for anxiety, tuberculosis, palpitations,
• Industrial: produces a permanent black dye

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Culture

• Propagation: Gypsywort can be propagated by seed in spring, or by division in autumn or spring.
• Cultivation: It’s natural habitat is damp meadows and stream banks. It can be grown in the sun or partial shade.
• Harvest: for medicinal uses, gypsywort herb is harvested at the beginning of flowering and dried.

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Sources

• Bremness, L. 1994. Herbs. Dorling Kindersley Ltd.
• Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Readers Digest press,
• Richters Herb Catalogue 1998.
• Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. RD Press.

Thanks to

This demonstration garden was a result of the efforts of Dr. Alan McKeown, Vegetable Scientist, University of Guelph and was made possible with grants from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Tobacco Diversification Program.

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