ECLIPTA (Eclipta alba) is an important medicinal herb in many parts of the world. It is a creeping, low-growing herbaceous annual with brown stem and small white flowers on a long stalk. It is easy to grow and has a very neat habit that is not unattractive, so you should consider putting in the decorative border. It grows freely in the tropics, and is hardy in zones 5-11. Annual. 10 seeds. ORGANICALLY GROWN
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: The list of uses is pretty long. It has bio-active steroidal alkaloids. Its name "Bhringaraja" means "rule of the hair." Eclipta is used in Ayurvedic medicine to restore thinning hair, prevent graying and/or darken hair (mix with mineral oil and apply to whole head - I can personally attest to its ability to stimulate hair growth, although it may not work for everyone. It is VERY soothing to the aging scalp. For hair darkening, it must be taken internally, and I have not yet tried that. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat liver and kidney disease, including reducing liver enlargement, jaundice and other associated ailments. The whole plant is useful. The tops are used to treat skin inflammation and in fact show excellent antifungal properties. It is also used to treat anemia, dysentery, eye diseases, asthma, mixed with honey as a cough syrup for children, and an extract has been shown to neutralize the venom of South American rattlesnakes! It is also said to destroy nematodes in the garden.
GROWING TIPS: Best germination is at 95 degrees F but can be sown in spring if soil is at least 68 degrees F. Needs partial shade (although mine grows well in a sunny patch with higher herbs around it); tolerates high altitudes; needs moisture (but has survived a hot Carolina summer well). Harvest entire plant when in flower and dry for use. If saving seed, when the tiny white flowers appear, you will want to keep a close eye on the seed heads. They go from green to full black seeds fairly quickly and then they're gone! See the last photo. Easy to collect the seeds though - just pinch a black seed head and keep a tight grip - you'll get them all that way until you deposit in a paper bag or envelope for additional drying. I also potted up some stray seedlings of this and they are doing nicely, so I will be bringing in for the winter to have on hand fresh.) One additional note, like peonies, this plant attracts ants in the flowering stage. I think they are important pollinators for this plant, as I did not notice them before it was budding, so please do not spray them. Just ignore them. Live and let live.
CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties. Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.
Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy (and pay for) much more seed than you could ever possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to do so! But at the prices most stores and catalogues charge, if you sample 20 different vegetables, herbs and flowers you will be spending $50 - $70! But, the same seeds at CherryGal.com will probably run around $25. CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!
Another important reason to grow a large variety of plants is that one of the chief culprits in honey bee colony collapse disorder seems to be that their immune systems are weakened by the prevalence of mono-cropping. In other words, bees pollinating only one variety crop have a diet equivalent to eating only bread. Growing an abundant variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers will help sustain our precious honeybees!
All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates, tested by the growers and myself. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.
ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) varieties, with an occasional modern variety included which I believe merits special attention. All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are OPEN-POLLINATED. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying the hybrid seed (get the picture?). Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture and all those other elements that home growers seek.
All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (most of them small farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year.
Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh stock, but are not guaranteed as to results (sorry - we wish we could, but there are too many variables in gardening) so please do not ask to return. However, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!
SHIPPING: I endeavor to ship my seeds as quickly as possible - usually within 24 - 48 hours. During peak seed season (January - June) this timeframe can stretch to a week or more because of heavy volume of sales. I do the best I can and fulfill orders in the order received. If a variety is on back order with a supplier and not likely to available for a week or longer, you will be advised and given the opportunity to substitute or cancel with refund. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you. Our checkout system is keyed to the US Postal System. For small seed orders, I recommend choosing FIRST CLASS mail at checkout. Larger orders (over 13 ounces) can ship either parcel post, though you may find PRIORITY MAIL actually to be less expensive. (I gave up trying to figure out the US Postal System rates a long time ago).
Lastly, I appreciate all my CherryGal.com customers, but have a special affinity for my seed customers. If you have a problem, please email me, using the contact links that are all over the website. Calling is likely to be a frustrating experience, as I do not have the staff to answer the phone and gave up my message system a long time ago because I was spending too much time answering messages instead of shipping and finding/growing wonderful things for my customers. But your email will be promptly responded to. Enjoy!
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