French herb is one of the wild herbs that are widespread in nature and that also like to make their way into private gardens. It is therefore quite possible that you will unexpectedly come across this plant with the yellow-white flowers in the vegetable patch at some point. Receive it knowingly and duly.

The French herb is also called button herb

names and family

The French herb is botanically referred to as Galinsoga. In the vernacular, on the other hand, the term button herb is more common. The plant comes from the daisy family.

origin

Contrary to what the name might suggest, the French herb does not come from France. Its origin is even on another continent. Peru, in the south of America, is considered to be his first homeland.

The herb was not able to reach Europe until the eighteenth century. In this country it spread at the same time as Napoleon stormed his neighboring countries. This parallel has led to the misleading naming.

location and occurrence

In the wild, French herb is mostly found on fallow land. It also likes to border roadsides or fields. Not infrequently, the herb also spreads in gardens, where it is regarded as an undesirable weed and is fought against. In earlier times it was cultivated as a vegetable.

tips

If you want to grow the French herb specifically these days, you should offer it a bright location with permeable, humus-rich and dry soil.

External features

The French herb does not have any particularly prominent characteristics, but it can still be easily distinguished from other wild plants.

  • Growth height: up to 60 cm
  • Leaves: ovate, slightly toothed, not or slightly hairy, somewhat shiny
  • Stem: round, erect, green, branched, glabrous to slightly hairy
  • Flowers: small, five white petals, yellow center
  • Flowering period: May to October
  • Fruit: split fruit

propagation

The French herb is an annual, not hardy plant. New, young plants grow up every year. Propagation is by self-seeding. Each individual plant forms more than a thousand germinable seeds.

toxicity

French herb is not poisonous. We humans can even eat it if we like its taste.

ingredients

The plant parts of this weed contain many valuable ingredients. These include:

  • iron
  • calcium
  • magnesium
  • manganese
  • Vitamin A
  • and vitamin C

use

As an edible French herb, it can be prepared similarly to spinach. Young, tender leaves can be added raw to salads, smoothies or pesto.

The plant is also used in medicine. More in their homeland, less here because little is known about their healing properties. It provides energy for necessary regeneration phases, helps with flu infections, gastrointestinal problems and has a positive effect on the blood count.

Category:

Herbs