Elecampane

Elecampane: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Sturdy, upright clump 1.5–1.8 m tall and about 90 cm wide.

Leaves

Large, oval to oblong, roughly hairy leaves; the basal leaves are up to 50 cm long, the stem leaves are smaller and clasp the stem.

Flowers

Yellow daisy flowers 6–8 cm across with narrow rays, from July to August.

Fruit

Small seeds with a fluffy pappus that drift on the wind.

Roots

Thick, fleshy rootstock with deep roots.

Flowering: July–August · Harvest and fruit: September–October · Sowing: April–May · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Imposing height of up to 1.8 m: a focal point at the back of the border.
• Large yellow daisy flowers from July to August.
• Attracts bees and butterflies.
• Large, decorative leaves give a lush, almost exotic look.
• Hardy, long-lived and low-maintenance.

Elecampane: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; in a sunny spot the soil must stay moist.
• Rich, moisture-retentive, deep soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Normal to wet; it likes a moist to wet soil.
• Allow about 90 cm per plant and put it at the back, so that it does not shade lower plants.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

1.8 m tall, 0.9 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Joe Pye weed: Tall pink flower heads that go well with the yellow flowers.
• Coneflower: Same sunny position; pink and yellow contrast.
• Ornamental grasses: A light, swaying complement next to the robust foliage.
• Delphinium: Blue flower spires as a contrast with the yellow.
• Daylily: A lower plant that also likes moist soil.

Elecampane: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or in September–October.
2. Dig the soil over deeply and mix in compost; the roots go deep.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot.
4. Leave about 90 cm between plants.
5. Water generously straight away and spread a layer of compost or leaf mould around the base.

Care

Water

Water generously in dry weather; in a dry summer it lets its leaves droop.

Feeding

In spring, a generous layer of compost or organic feed.

Staking

In open, windy spots the tall stems can blow over; put in a support in good time or plant it in shelter.

Deadheading

Cut off faded flower heads to limit self-seeding, or leave them for the birds.

Harvesting

The root was traditionally lifted in autumn from plants two to three years old; today it is grown mainly as an ornamental.

Tip: Give it deep, moisture-retentive soil and enough room at the back of the border; then it stays healthy and flowers freely. Divide the clump every few years.

Elecampane: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: Cut the withered stems back in November or in late winter, in March.

How:

• Cut all dead stems down to a few centimetres above the ground.
• Cut off faded flower heads in August if you want to prevent self-seeding.
• Remove weak or broken stems right at the base.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In spring or autumn, every 3–4 years. Lift the clump and divide it with a sharp knife or spade into pieces with roots and one or more buds.

Seed

Sow in April–May outdoors in a seedbed or in a tray; the seed germinates best after a cold spell, so autumn sowing also works.

Elecampane: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The foliage dies back in autumn; cut it off in November or in March.
• In winter the plant rests underground; a thin layer of mulch around the base is welcome.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: Young shoots are nibbled in spring. Collect them in the evening or use a barrier.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry weather. Water generously and choose an airy position.
• Wind damage: Tall stems snap in wind. Support them or choose a sheltered spot.
• Aphids: On young shoots and buds. Spray them off with water; ladybirds help.

Through the year

• March: Cut back the old stems. Divide and plant.
• April: Plant. Sowing is also possible. Watch for slugs.
• May: Put in supports. Sow. Mulch.
• June: Water in dry weather.
• July: Flowering begins. Water in dry weather.
• August: Full flower. Remove faded flowers to prevent self-seeding.
• September: Plant. Divide.
• October: Plant. Divide.
• November: Cut back withered foliage.
• December: Rest.

Edible and useful

Roots (September–October)

Harvest the root in September or October from plants two or three years old, when the leaves die back. Push a garden fork in all around the clump and lift it; a piece of rootstock with a bud can be replanted straight away. Wash the thick, fleshy root well and scrape or peel it. It smells aromatic, a little of violets and camphor, and tastes bitter and sharp. It has long been candied as a sweet or boiled into a syrup. The root is full of inulin, a fibre named after elecampane (Inula).

Storing

Fresh root keeps for a week in the salad drawer of the fridge. To dry it, cut it into thin slices and dry them on a rack somewhere warm and airy, or in the oven at no more than 40 °C with the door ajar, until hard and brittle. Dried, it keeps for a year in a closed jar.

Caution: Use elecampane in small amounts: a few pieces of candied root or a spoonful of syrup a day, and not for weeks on end. A lot of it can cause vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, and the inulin quickly gives you wind. People allergic to the daisy family (such as chamomile or arnica) may react to elecampane, including a skin rash when cleaning the root: wear gloves if so. Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, nor for young children.

Eating and using is at your own risk: see the terms of use.

Recipes

• Candied elecampane root (Other · ± 250 g · 1½ hrs + 1 to 2 days drying)
• Elecampane syrup (Syrup · ± 400 ml · 45 min)

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Did you know?

• The substance inulin is named after the plant; it was first isolated from elecampane roots.
• According to an old legend, the plant sprang from the tears of Helen of Troy.
• The flowers look like small sunflowers and provide nectar for bees and butterflies.