Arnica montana
Mountain tobacco, Mountain arnica, Leopard's bane
- Height × spread
- 0.5m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A plant that has yellow daisy flowers in June. The flowers have a pronounced central boss. These are followed by small dandelion-like seed heads. The leaves are hairy and matt green with impressed longitudinal veins. It is poisonous if eaten, but is a much valued medicinal plant. As a homeopathic staple, it used to heal bruises and sprains. It absolutely requires acid soil and resents alkaline water from the tap - so a water butt may be essential if you grow this in dryer parts of the country. Give it a space where it is uncrowded, and a sunny position
- Flower colour
- Orange, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.5m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous)
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin allergen
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with sequestrol
If plants are acid loving and grown in soil with little acidity, or in a container, or are watered with limey tap water an annual feed with sequestrol (iron chelate) is highly beneficial. Follow guidelines on the packet. Will also 'blue-up' hydrangeas.
For hydrangeas that have good blue flowers in acid soil, this product can be used with alkaline soil to turn the flowers blue. This is most effective when the soil is neutral or just slightkly alkaline.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Compost · Planting
Ericaceous compost
This plant requires acidic (ericaceous) soil. Where the soil is not acidic, or when planting in pots, use an ericaceous compost.