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Cedronella canariensis

Common name:	Balm Of Gilead	Family:	Labiatae
Author:	(L.)Webb.&Berth.	Botanical references:
Synonyms:	Cedronella triphylla
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	N. Africa - Canary Isles.
Habitat:	Not known
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Dracocephalum canariense[H]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Balm Of Gilead [H], Herb Of Gilead [P], Herb-of-gilead [B],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	cana = grayed due to hairs;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Lamiales. Renamed to Lamiaceae -- Mint family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1.5m by 1m . It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, By Walls, By South Wall, By West Wall.

Edible Uses

Tea.

The leaves are used in the preparation of a tea called 'Thé de Canaries'[183]. It is very aromatic. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[238].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Pot-pourri.

The aromatic leaves are dried for use in pot-pourri with a musky woody scent[238].

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained soil in a warm sunny position[182].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, usually dying overwinter even in the milder areas of the country. It can be grown as an annual however, when it will usually flower and set viable seed. Plants sometimes survive mild winters when they are grown outdoors. If you grow the plant outdoors, then it is a good idea to take basal cuttings in early summer and keep these in an unheated greenhouse over the winter. Even if your outdoor plants are killed by the cold, these greenhouse plants should survive and supply replacement stock[K].
The whole plant is very aromatic, emitting a sweet cedar-like scent[182, 200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. It usually germinates in about 2 weeks at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K].
Division in spring[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or late in the following spring.
Basal cuttings in late spring or early summer[200]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Scent

Leaves: Crushed: The whole plant is very aromatic, emitting a sweet cedar-like scent.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Cedronella triphylla (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.