Meadowsweet ( the plant )

blowin · Meadowsweet ( the plant )

I understand that Meadowsweet was once used as animal bedding , particularly when people had to sleep above their cattle . Was this only because of its fairly strong smell or does it also have insecticidal or medicinal properties ?
It grows everywhere around here and since I like the smell I thought I might dry some to put in with the chicken and pig houses .

Camile

I've never heard of that and wouldn't even know the plant ..

but would it not be because it's growing everywhere wild ? so they could save the straw for thatching and all ? like you could use rushes for bedding too ..

Just a thought ..

Camile

ron

Hi blowin
For medicinal and other uses try:

http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/meadow28.html

Ron

David

Apparently meadowsweet was once used to make hospitals smell nice. Loads of it growing here too. It apparently makes a nice flower wine, which I keep meaning to have a crack at, as the flower smells so good.

MrsL

I have tracked down a recipe for a cordial to try; it's ready for harvesting now, so hope to get to it this week somewhen. Also want to try the wine. Hadn't heard about the bedding, that's interesting. Lots in the ditches around here at the moment.

Graney

We've got loads of it too. It's a very good indicator of the wetter bits of the land.

When I'm strimming and hit a plant it releases an overwhelming smell of Germolene!

MrsL

Blerk - might give the wine a miss then..........

My book said scented like honey!! Confused

admin

Funny honey ! Quite pleasant IMHO but definitely "medicinal" .

MrsL

I made the cordial, and it's very nice, quite honey-like after all. Some in the freezer too.