The heavy use of the medicinal plant arnica, which is now rightly considered poisonous, in earlier centuries has ensured that the plant is very rare in many places and is therefore protected by law. With a bit of luck and the right conditions, cultivation in the garden is also possible.
When and how is arnica sowed?
Arnica can either be sown in pots on the windowsill in February or directly in the garden from May. For optimal conditions, arnica needs slightly acidic soil and sufficient moisture. Please note that the plant usually only flowers in its third year.
Arnica seeds
The plant is a daisy family and not only resembles the dandelion in the color of the flowers: after all, the seeds of arnica, which ripen in autumn, are also equipped with small umbrellas. After successful establishment, the plant spreads in the garden either with the wind or by passing wild animals. You can also collect the seeds from your first arnica specimens in the garden and sow them in pots the following spring.
Growing young plants under glass or indoors
The best time to grow arnica in the greenhouse or on the windowsill is February. Since these are light germinators, the seeds should not be covered with sowing soil. By circulating the warm air around the windowsill, care must be taken to ensure that the soil in the planters does not dry out. From May onwards, the young plants can then be transplanted to a suitable outdoor location. If you have a rather calcareous soil in your garden, you will need to help a little: Dig out small planting holes at the planned location and fill them with a slightly acidic planting substrate when planting (e.g. peat (€15.00 on Amazon)).
Sow the arnica directly in the garden
From May onwards, arnica seeds can also be sown directly in the garden. Due to the easier care and demands on the soil, growing it in a pot on the terrace can also make sense. When sowing light germinators in the garden, wind and weather can cause the seeds to drift. You should therefore take appropriate precautions when sowing and have some hay or fine grass clippings ready. After sowing, sprinkle this material over the arnica bed to keep the seeds in place as desired.
Tip
As a gardener, you need patience to grow arnica from seeds in the garden: the home-grown plants usually only bloom in their third year and only then produce seeds for further propagation.
