Hemp Agrimony

I can’t say what it is about weeds that l have always loved? Perhaps it is quite simply because they are misunderstood like some animal species. Whatever your opinion or view is on weeds, they are everywhere, and they are here to stay.

Twenty-five years ago, l used to forage for weeds to feed the enormous number of rabbits l had in my commercial breeding operation. Knowing about them made everything easier because it meant that l wouldn’t accidentally kill an animal by feeding the wrong weed.

Most weeds are harmless, not all. Of course, some are and can be deadly. The fact is that people don’t like weeds because they don’t belong where they usually appear or are out of place. Many a time, gardeners especially don’t want them because weeds tend to grow quicker and easier than many ornamental flowers.

Weeds have a way of surviving. They are ONLY considered weeds on the domestic level because, let’s be honest, when we are out walking in the countryside, how many people are bothered by the presence of weeds then?

There are advantages and disadvantages to having weeds in your gardens and yards. They do have a lot of benefits that many people tend to ignore, and this series will highlight that.

The Beauty of Weeds
Companion Plantings
Shelter
Encouraging wildlife
Fertilising and enriching the soils
Providing and active Mulch/Soil protection
Attracting pollinators and good insects
Repelling pests
Food source for animals and humans
Serves as decoy crops
Great for wildlifing the garden
Soil conditioning

Hope you enjoyed this introduction and l’ll see you again soon in the series.

The Autistic Composter

Hemp Agrimony

Eupatorium cannabinum

Hemp Agrimony
Hemp Agrimony
Hemp Agrimony
Hemp Agrimony
Hemp Agrimony
Hemp Agrimony

Images my own.

Some see Hemp Agrimony [Eupatorium cannabinum] as a wildflower, and others like a wild flowering weed. It is a herbaceous perennial and part of the daisy family. Personally, l love the gorgeousness of the flowering pink clusters. It grows wonderfully well in a Nature Reserve near where l live and is a native plant to the UK.

Although called Hemp, there is no actuality towards it being able to be smoked, although its leaves look a bit like the cannabis leaves do. It’s not even related to Agrimony either! The flowering plants of the wild herb are used in an apothecary sense for making medicines by professionals for a cure for scurvy and jaundice, stomach issues, antihistamines and treatment for warts.

This tall and attractive plant’s dusty pink flower blossoms are visible between July through to September, and it is, in addition to being alluring for bees, is also a colossal magnet for butterflies! I constantly see Red Admirals around in the same numbers that l see on the nearby buddleias. It provides both pollen and nectar for many insect varieties. Birds also love the fallen seeds.

Slugs and snails, and aphids prey on it, especially when young and growing into the season.

Hemp Agrimony is also known as Holy Rope due to the leaves used to make rope.

It also makes a great addition to wildlife gardens and meadows and cottage styled Victorian gardens, grows well in moist soils, and appreciates total sunspots. It grows well and can spread quickly once established. The best maintenance is to prune it right back at the end of the season. It can soon reach a vertical standing height of around four to five feet before it starts to lean.