medicinal herbs
Smooth Cat's Ear
Hypochoeris glabra

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Smooth Cat's Ear

Latin name: Hypochoeris glabra

Family: Compositae

Medicinal use of Smooth Cat's Ear:

The root is aperient, diuretic and tonic. The leaves are astringent. The whole plant is vulnerary.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Grassy fields, derelict arable land, heaths, fixed dunes etc on sandy soils. This is a typical plant of non-calcareous sand plant communities.

Edible parts of Smooth Cat's Ear:

Young leaves - raw or cooked. Somewhat bitter, they are used as an emergency food.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have enough seed it can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring.

Cultivation of Smooth Cat's Ear:

Grassy fields, derelict arable land, heaths, fixed dunes etc on sandy soils. This is a typical plant of non-calcareous sand plant communities.

Known hazards of Hypochoeris glabra:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.