Arnica montana ( Wolf’s Bane ) is a perennial herb that is native to cold, mountainous regions of Europe and grown primarily for its beautiful yellow flowers. Wolf’s Bane is a small, hardy and has a wide range medicinal applications that can assist with bruising, joints, inflammation, and pain relief.
Suitable for Cold and Temperate climates.
Warning: Wolf’s Bane is moderately toxic and should not be taken internally or applied topically to broken skin.
The flowers of Arnica montana is used topically to help in treating ailments such as bruises, sprains, muscle aches, joint pain, wounds, inflammation, insect bites and even swelling from broken bones. One of the best ways to use Wolf’s Bane is to include it into topical salves. Here are a few recipes on how to make a variety of salves.
Arnica montana is also commonly known as Leopard’s Bane, Mountain Arnica and Mountain Tobacco.
Click here to view our full range of herbs.
Growth
Arnica montana is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a maximum height of 60cm (2 feet) and spreads no wider than 20cm (8 inches). Wolf’s Bane grows a rosette of ovoid green basal leaves and tall stems that have a few opposite bright green downy leaves that are toothed and aromatic. The flowering season occurs in summer (during the plants second growing season) when the plants each produce one single yellow/orange flower.
Flowers are about 5cm (2 inches) in diameter and have 10-15 ray florets and a multitude of disc florets.
Naturally growing on high mountain meadows in Europe, Wolf’s Bane can be a challenging plant to grow in Australia.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Asteraceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-10 to 25°C / 14 to 77°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining, sandy.
LOCATION:
Full Sun or Part-Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 60cm (2 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 20cm (8 inches)
pH:
5.8-7.6
GROWTH TYPE:
Perennial.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low-Medium
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by bees, butterflies, flies and moths.
MATURITY:
3-18 months.
GERMINATION RATES:
65-75%
GERMINATION TIME:
21-28 days.
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Reasonably Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 700
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
No
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 2 years.
FACTS ABOUT ARNICA MONTANA (Wolf’s Bane)
In the plants native habitat, Arnica montana mostly grows on alpine meadows that reach heights of up to 3000 metres (9,800 feet) which is higher than any mountain found in Australia.
Estimates of demand in Europe for Wolf’s Bane is currently around 50 tonnes per year in Europe which is challenging to supply due to heavy regulations in Belgium, Italy, Poland, Germany, and France. It is cultivated in large scale in Estonia.
