Arnica montana: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used in herbal medicine for centuries.
Plant Profile: Arnica montana
Taxonomy: Arnica montanaNames
Arnica Root, Leopard's-Bane, Mountain Snuff, Mountain Tobacco
Phonetic Spelling:AR-nih-kah mon-TAY-nah
Genus:Arnica
Species:montana
Family:Asteraceae
Leopard's Bane is a perennial herb belonging to the aster family, originally found in Europe. This plant typically reaches heights of 0.5 to 2 feet and features soft, basal leaves. Its flowering period spans from May to August, showcasing vibrant yellow-orange ray flowers that encircle yellow disc florets, which are later followed by achenes.
This herb thrives in a variety of well-drained soils, whether in full sun or partial shade, although it favors slightly alkaline, moist sandy loams. However, it does not withstand drought conditions well.
Arnica montana Feature Summary
Tags
#yellow
#poisonous
#perennial
#yellow flowers
#rock gardens
#borders
#bedding plants
Similar Plants
Arnica montana is often confused with:
Arnica montana Feature Summary
Attributes
Used in herbal medicine for centuries.
Flowers
Flowers are yellow rays surrounding yellow disc florets in late spring to early summer.
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
Radial
Leaves
While basal leaves are clustered, the stem leaves are opposite and simple.
Deciduous
Simple
Opposite
Poisonous to Humans
Poisonous through dermatitis and ingestion; Poisonous parts: roots and flowers. Symptoms may include: Skin irritation upon contact; after ingestion, heart palpitation, vomiting, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and coma in children.
Helenalin
High
Flowers
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Poisonous
Deciduous
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Fruit
Achene
Stem
Landscape
Rock Garden
Border
Poisonous to Humans
Contact Dermatitis
Problem for Children
Arnica montana Image Gallery
Arnica montana Attributes
Arnica montana: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe
Arnica montana: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Arnica montana Flowers
Arnica montana: Flower Description
Flowers are yellow rays surrounding yellow disc florets in late spring to early summer.
Arnica montana: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Arnica montana: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Arnica montana: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Arnica montana: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Arnica montana Leaves
Arnica montana: Leaf Description
While basal leaves are clustered, the stem leaves are opposite and simple.
Arnica montana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Arnica montana: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Arnica montana: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Arnica montana: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Arnica montana Poisonous to Humans
Arnica montana: Poison Symptoms
Poisonous through dermatitis and ingestion; Poisonous parts: roots and flowers. Symptoms may include: Skin irritation upon contact; after ingestion, heart palpitation, vomiting, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and coma in children.
Arnica montana: Poison Toxic Principle
Helenalin
Arnica montana: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Arnica montana: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Arnica montana: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Arnica montana Whole Plant Traits
Arnica montana: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Arnica montana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Arnica montana Cultural Conditions
Arnica montana: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Arnica montana: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Arnica montana: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Arnica montana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Arnica montana: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Arnica montana Fruit
Arnica montana: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Arnica montana Stem
Arnica montana: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Arnica montana Landscape
Arnica montana: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Arnica montana: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Arnica montana: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
