Saw-Wort, Dyer's plumeless saw-wort
Serratula tinctoria

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

Serratula tinctoria is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Flies, bees. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Wood margins, clearings, rides and open grasslands on moist basic soils over limestone or chalk.

Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to N. Spain, Balkans and Siberia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Young leaves and flower buds? - cooked. This report was for Hemistepta lyrata, which is said in the same report to be a synonym for this species.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Astringent, vulnerary.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.

Other

Rating: 1

A fine yellow dye is obtained from the juice of the plant, it is very durable.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

How it is grown

Succeeds in any well drained soil in a sunny position. Suitable for the wild flower garden where it may naturalize.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Make sure the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out the following year after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. 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.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Meadow;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Hemistepta lyrata