Dog Fennel
What a strange name, what a strange plant! Dog fennel is a wild plant that grows native to North America. It is really beautiful in the height of summer, Looks like a giant chamomile without the flowers. It is a member of the aster family and has extreme insect repellent properties. This is not a plant you want to eat, it will poison you, but it can be used for insect repellent, deer repellent, dog repellent, vermin repellent in general. Most animals and insects do not like this plant. It has a certain smell to it that most do not like.
The fern-like leaves are"wispy" it is fragile to the touch, and after you pick some the color darkens almost immediately. Also, when bruised the color darkens more.
I make a tea out of it and put directly into a sprayer, once cooled, and spray on my garden plants. The rain washes it off so I repeat after rain or watering. I will be attempting to plant one on each corner of my garden area to help keep pests away, rabbits are a problem!
Follow this link for a map of areas it grows. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=euca5
Some people out there say it is ok for occasional use, but here's my take on it. Pyrrolizidine is an alkaloid contained within the plant much like Comfrey and is known to cause liver damage if taken internally. Now I use Comfrey as a topical and mouth wash, but I do not drink or eat it. I would suggest you do your homework before using plants such as these for any internal use.
Well please up-vote and follow if you like my content. I will continue to post similar articles on plants, homegrown foods, gardening and homesteading ideas. Again thanks for dropping in. Remember that this is not medical advice nor do I prescribe anything to anyone. This post is for educational purposes only. Your body is your temple, treat it well. Have a great garden!
Community Forums
Welcome to steemit! If you are ever looking for a group, actually a community, of homesteaders/gardeners/self-sufficient like-minded people, I am the moderator of a group here... also the "un"official ambassador to the group.
let me know and I can post an invite link here for you!
sure! I would like that. Thanks!
I meant to invite you the other day but life was crazy busy.
here is the join Link: https://discord.gg/VKCrWsS
The Front Porch is the main chat area and there's a channel called Welcome for you to check out- it's for new members.
Welcome!
Thanks! Yes it is busy season here, planting and still bed building and i already have requests for greens! No need to be sorry, I completely understand.
When you get a chance, please check out this post of mine. You won't be disappointed. It's my weekly shout out to fellow gardeners and homesteaders.
Excellent! This seems like a great plant to keep around! Thanks for the info!
no problem, if you want seed you will have to wait till fall, but i think i dragged you out to show you one day cause i could not figure out what it was... maybe it was bill... that was what a year or more ago?