ARNICA AB
Arnica montana
Rich in essential oils, Arnica is used in maceration because it soothes and allows better healing for traumas without wounds, bruises. Arnica montana, or otherwise known as Mountain Arnica or Savoyard Tobacco, because the latter smoked its aromatic foliage, is a herbaceous perennial recognizable by its flowers ranging from golden yellow to orange-yellow that can be seen from late spring to early summer and which give off a strong fragrance. It is a bio-indicator plant of acidic and nutrient-poor soils. Naturally present in non-calcareous, rich and slightly acidic soils, at an altitude of between 600 and 2400 m, this variety is today threatened in many French regions and its harvest is regulated to prevent it from disappearing from its natural environment. Successfully sowing arnica Arnica is not an easy species to grow. Sow arnica from mid-February (under cover) until April in pots in a mixture of peat, sand, and heather soil. Cover the seeds very lightly. Water with non-calcareous water and keep the substrate moist until emergence. Germination occurs in about 20 days. After 2.5 months, gently transplant the seedlings into pots of fresh, moist soil. Growing arnica Arnica will thrive in full sun or partial shade. Very hardy, it will withstand temperatures down to -30°C but will not thrive in windy locations. Plant arnica in light, acidic, siliceous, moist, and well-drained soil, leaving 30 cm between plants; otherwise, it will have great difficulty growing. If your soil is not rich enough, add potting soil and heather soil. Do not add fertilizer. Water initially, then water moderately at the base. Mulch. Cut the flowers after flowering and cut back the stems slightly. Flowering and harvesting of arnica The flowers are harvested from May to July. It is possible that the flowers will not appear until the second year.
