Elecampane is a
non-native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in verges and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 200cm.
Elecampane is a fairly tall plant with large leaves and composite flowers, with long ray florets. Elecampane takes its name from the region of Campania in Italy, where it grows wild. It was introduced into the UK as a tonic and medicinal plant as early as the tenth century and exists in the wild as a garden 'escape'. The root of the plant has been used traditionally as a constituent of French and Swiss Absinthe.
Botanic classification and naming: Elecampane is a member of the Daisy (Asteraceae) family. The genus name
'Inula' identifies the plant as a Yellowhead and its species name 'helenium' means 'after Helen of Troy'.
Benefits: Elecampane flowers attract bees and butterflies and its seedheads provide food for finches and linnets.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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