Agrimonia eupatoria aka Agrimony

Agrimonia eupatoria, or common agrimony, belongs to the rose family. It is native to Europe, northern Asia, and northern and southern Africa. Its range includes Britain and Ireland. This herbaceous perennial grows in grassland, hedges, and roadside verges. Other recorded sites include fields, stone walls, and waste ground. It often grows on alkaline soil in sunny places.

The plant has an upright form and a hairy surface. Its pinnate leaves have deep veins, and it sheds them each year. Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall. Their mature spread is about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Plants reach their full size within one or two years. The leaves and tall flower spikes give it a clear, upright outline.

Yellow flowers open from June to August along the spikes. Each flower has five petals and a star-like shape. The spikes can reach 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] in height. Burred fruits follow the flowers, and animals help spread them. These burrs account for names such as beggar's ticks and clot bur. The RHS suggests this species for wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows. It also suits the meadow and hedgerow settings listed by PFAF.

Grow common agrimony in full sun or partial shade. It prefers neutral soil, though it also grows in alkaline ground. Chalk, loam, and sand suit it when water drains well. The soil can stay moist, but it should not hold standing water. The RHS gives it an H7 hardiness rating. This places it among plants hardy below −20°C in European conditions. Sow seed in spring or autumn to raise new plants. It needs no pruning and has few reported pest or disease problems.

PFAF records tea made from fresh or dried leaves, flowers, and stems. People drink this tea either hot or cold. It also records a long history of use in home herbal remedies. These uses include digestive complaints, but they do not establish clinical benefit. Its tannins can cause digestive upset and constipation in large amounts. A report of edible seed may concern another species, so it remains uncertain here. The plant also provides yellow dye. Reports name the roots, leaves, or whole plant as dye sources. Later autumn harvests can give a deeper yellow.