Leaf
Bertrand Bui, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Elecampane
Inula helenium L.
Also known as: Horse-heal
Family: Asteraceae
1 to 2 m tall
Damp meadows, track edges, waste ground, medicinal herb gardens
Flowering: July – August
Full sun
Part shade
-25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its root has been used since ancient Greece to treat coughs.
🍃 Leaves
Large ovate, hairy, toothed leaves, the basal ones can reach 50 cm
🌸 Flowers
Large bright yellow flower heads with very fine, numerous ray florets, resembling a slender sunflower
🍎 Fruits
Achenes topped with a pappus of reddish hairs
🪵 Bark
Upright, sturdy, hairy stem, little branched
🗺️ Distribution
Europe and temperate Asia; naturalised and cultivated in France, especially near houses and old gardens.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Large flower heads rich in nectar and pollen, very attractive to bees and many foraging insects.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Back of the border, medicinal herb gardens, wildflower meadows; imposing silhouette and spectacular bright yellow flowering.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Not toxic; root used since antiquity in herbal medicine for respiratory complaints.
🌿 Other Asteraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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