Agrimony

Agrimonia eupatoria

herb

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is an upright, gently old-fashioned perennial of meadows and hedgerows, sending up slender 2 to 3 ft spires lined with small, scented, star-shaped yellow flowers - the look that earned it the country name churchsteeples. After bloom the spikes set little burred seeds that hitch a ride on passing clothes and fur. The whole leafy flowering top is the part harvested, with a long tradition as a gentle astringent herb and, historically, a yellow dye plant. It is easy, hardy, and unfussy, with soft divided leaves and a faintly apricot scent, and bees work the flower spikes.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Yarrow — A fellow meadow herb that draws beneficial insects and shares the easy, sunny conditions
• Calendula — A bright companion for an apothecary bed, both undemanding and pollinator-friendly
• Chamomile — A low, easygoing herb that fills the ground around the upright agrimony spires

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Aphids →

  Hose colonies from the flower spikes; predators usually keep them down outdoors

• Powdery mildew →

  Give airflow and sun and avoid overhead watering in humid, crowded spots

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest the leafy flowering tops in summer once the spikes are in full bloom but before the burred seeds set, cutting the upper part of the stems and drying them in a shaded, airy place. Drying before the burrs form keeps the herb clean and easy to handle. The dried leaves and flowers are used for tea; gather extra to dry for winter.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Agrimony is grown as a traditional herbal-tea plant - the dried leafy flowering tops, mildly bitter and astringent with a faint apricot note, are steeped into a tea. It is not eaten as a food; in the garden it is a graceful, bee-friendly meadow perennial and a historic source of yellow dye.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

A gentle herb, but agrimony is high in tannins, so large or frequent amounts can cause stomach upset or constipation, and it is traditionally avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is used as an occasional tea rather than eaten as a food.