Agrimonia spp.
Agrimony is a cheerful perennial herb that produces upright spires of fragrant yellow flowers from late spring through summer.
Traditionally used in herbal medicine, it also serves as a valuable nectar source for pollinators.
This herb thrives in Zones 5 to 9 and has been used across the globe for dying cloth or paper and as a medicinal plant to treat all kinds of conditions, from insomnia and fevers to wounds and asthma.
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Even if you never use it for dye or medicine, agrimony is ideal for wildflower meadows and pollinator-friendly landscapes.
It’s one of those easy going, pretty, set-it-and-forget-it kind of plants.
If that’s what you need in your garden, then settle in. We’re going to go over how to plant and grow agrimony and to get there, we’ll discuss the following:
What You’ll Learn
Agrimonia is a genus of plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa.
The most commonly cultivated species is A. eupatoria which was introduced to North America by Europeans.
The genus name comes from the Greek argemone, which means “eye-healing plant.”
The foliage features pinnate leaves composed of six to eight serrated leaflets.
These range from about one inch in length higher up the stem to up to nine inches near the base.
Underground, deep rhizomes help anchor the plant and draw moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Tall, narrow spikes of small yellow blossoms emerge in late spring and persist into late summer.
Each flower has five petals and forms a cup-shaped hypanthium lined with fine bristles. The blossoms are densely packed along the flower stalks.
The tall, slender flower stalks have inspired the nickname “church steeples.”
After the flowers fade, large seed pods with prickly burs develop. These bristles act like velcro, attaching to clothing or animal fur so they can be carried far and wide.
It’s these seed pods that have earned the plant the nickname cockleburr, stickwort, or sicklewort.
It’s fascinating to watch the flowers transition to the burrs, or at least I think so. Initially the flowers are upright with their cups facing the sun.
As they age, the petals fall off and the calyx, which is the part that holds the tiny leaf-like structures known as sepals, gradually tilts downward.
It then turns woody and the small bristles at the top of the flower become larger as the protective shell around the single seed swells.
Quick Look
Common name(s): Agrimony, church steeples, stickwort, cockleburr, sicklewort
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 5-9
Native to: Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America
Bloom time / season: Late spring to late summer
Exposure: Full sun to light shade
Soil type: Moderate sand to moderate clay, depleted, well-draining
Soil pH: 6.0-8.0, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
Time to maturity: 90–120 days
Mature size: 1–2 ft wide x 2–5 ft high (depending on species)
Best uses: Pollinator gardens, naturalized areas, medicinal, dye
Taxonomy
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Agrimonia
Species: Eupatoria, gryposepala, procera (syn. odorata), pubescens, parviflora
The plant contains tannins, silica, vitamin K, triterpenes, coumarins, and catechins, and has a fragrance that is a bit like a spicy apricot.
Don’t confuse this species with hemp-agrimony or boneset, which are plants in the Eupatorium genus. They don’t look alike, but they have similar common names.
Agrimony has been used by humans for centuries and has spread well beyond its native range. It now grows in fields and disturbed areas throughout Europe and North America.
During the Anglo-Saxon era, it was called garclive. By the 1400s, it was known as egrimoyne.
Agrimony was used to treat conditions including diarrhea, jaundice, incontinence, wounds, eye diseases, back pain, and the common cold.
It was also believed to deflect curses or reflect them back on the caster.
Folklore held that placing a sprig of agrimony under a pillow would cause a person to sleep until it was removed, though there is little historical evidence that it was widely used as a sedative. All parts of the plant have also been used to produce yellow dye.
How to Grow
In the wild, you’ll find agrimony in disturbed areas with poor soil and lots of sun. A touch of shade won’t hurt them, but they might not bloom as well as they can otherwise.
Still, these are adaptable plants and they tend to make the most of wherever you put them.
Agrimony prefers to grow in alkaline soil but it can grow in slightly acidic soil, as well. While the plants tolerate depleted soil, they can’t handle wet feet.
Make sure to plant in well-draining ground because standing water will kill your agrimony faster than just about anything else.
Keep the soil moist or allow just the surface to dry out as the plants become established.
After a month or so, they should be well established and you don’t need to add water unless the soil dries out.
However, if it’s the flowers you’re after, the soil shouldn’t be allowed to dry out completely.
Some gardeners opt to let the soil dry out as a method of controlling the spread since no flowers means no seed-filled burrs.
If the plant is spreading into an area where you don’t want it, let the plants dry out as much as possible.
There’s no need to feed your agrimony. It’s fine without any added nutrients.
Species to Select
Most species of Agrimonia look similar and can be grown in the same way, but it helps to know a bit about each one.
Swamp or small-flowered agrimony (A. parviflora), sometimes called harvestlice, is considered a noxious weed in many areas.
With its tiny, less showy flowers and invasive tendencies, it’s best avoided.
Eupatoria
Common agrimony (A. eupatoria) is the species typically called church steeples for its tall stems of flowers.
It’s the species most commonly cultivated in home gardens. That’s partially because the flower stalks are dense and showy, and they appear from June through September.
You can find packets of 10 seeds available from Earthbeat Seeds.
Gryposepala
Tall or hooked agrimony (A. gryposepala) grows wild in disturbed areas and, as the name suggests, can grow over five feet tall.
The undersides of the leaves and stems have faint hairs. This species is native to North American woodlands and was an important plant used medicinally by indigenous people.
Procera
Fragrant agrimony (A. procera, syn. A. odorata) stands out not just for its size, reaching about three feet tall before flowering, but for its strong, pleasant scent.
It’s the only species in the genus with a noticeable fragrance, produced by glands on the undersides of the leaves.
Visually, it resembles common agrimony and often grows in the same habitats.
The easiest way to distinguish it is by scent, though the leaves are also more finely serrated if you take a closer look.
Pubescens
The leaves of A. pubescens aka downy agrimony are hairy on the undersides, inspiring its common name.
Indigenous to the eastern part of North America, it closely resembles other local species, but one distinguishing feature is its flower arrangement.
The blossoms appear alternately along the stem rather than in pairs.
Striata
Roadside agrimony (A. striata) lives up to its name. It can be found along roadsides, on the banks of streams and in fields.
It can grow up to six feet tall in ideal conditions but typically remains smaller.
The flowers appear from July through August. It’s also known as wood agrimony because it can be found in open woodland areas.
Maintenance
After the flowers fade, spiky burrs follow. If you have pets, I highly encourage you to cut down the stalks so you don’t have to contend with dogs and cats covered in burrs that refuse to come loose.
Of course, if you want your agrimony to spread around and fill in an area, let those stalks grow.
You don’t need to prune the plant, but once it dies back to the ground in the fall, you can cut off the spent leaves.
Propagation
The easiest way to propagate agrimony is to either buy seeds or divide an existing plant. Seeds require some planning, so let’s start with those.
From Seed
Seeds are best direct-sown in the fall. They require several weeks of cold temperatures to germinate, so spring planting may delay sprouting until the following year.
Since these plants thrive in poor soil, preparation is usually minimal. Still, incorporating a bit of well-rotted compost can improve structure and drainage without overfeeding.
Water the soil thoroughly before planting. Sow seeds about an eighth to a quarter of an inch deep and space them six inches apart.
Keep the soil evenly moist until germination, which typically takes one to two weeks. When seedlings are a few inches tall, you can allow the surface to dry out slightly between waterings.
By Division
Agrimony spreads through both fibrous roots and rhizomes, making it easy to propagate by division.
To relocate part of a plant, dig up a section with a sharp shovel, going at least a foot deep to get a healthy portion of the root system.
Replant the division in a new location and backfill the original hole with soil.
Transplanting
If you can find plants at a nursery, they’re easy to get into the ground.
Just dig a hole about the same size as the growing container.
Remove the plant from its container and set it in the hole then firm the soil up around it. Water well.
Pests and Disease
Agrimony is rarely bothered by pests. Even deer tend to leave it alone.
Occasionally, caterpillars may chew holes in the leaves, and aphids can make an appearance, but these issues are minor and usually cosmetic.
No intervention is necessary in most cases.
The only disease you need to worry about is root rot, which can happen if agrimony is grown in overly wet soil.
It is easy to prevent if you make sure the soil is well-draining and you avoid overwatering.
Harvesting
If you plan to use your agrimony medicinally, it should be ready to harvest between 90 to 120 days. You should harvest when the plant is in bloom but before it starts to develop seed heads.
The leaves, stems, and flowers can all be used for dye.
For a bright yellow color, wait to harvest until just before the first frost. Mature plants produce a richer hue, while younger ones yield a paler shade.
You can either cut the entire plant down to the ground or selectively snip leaves and flowers as needed.
The Perfect Plant for Herbalists and Pollinators Alike
Agrimony might not be the most beautiful ornamental in the garden, but that doesn’t matter.
Whether you’re cultivating it for herbal use, supporting pollinators, or harvesting natural dye, it earns its keep.
Are you growing agrimony in your herb garden? How do you use it? Let us know in the comments section below!
And for more information about growing herbs in your garden, add these guides to your reading list next:
