Herb: Wild Madder


Latin name: Rubia peregrina


Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)



Medicinal use of Wild Madder:

Abortifacient, aphrodisiac, diuretic, emmenagogue.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Perennial

Height:
10 cm
(4 inches)

Habitat of the herb:

Hedges, thickets, scrub and stony ground in the south and south-west of Britain.

Other uses of Wild Madder:

A red dye is obtained from the roots.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation of Wild Madder:

Hedges, thickets, scrub and stony ground in the south and south-west of Britain.

Known hazards of Rubia peregrina:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.