The real arnica (Arnica montana) has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries and is also popularly known by names such as mountain welfare, mountain marigold, angelwort and woundwort. Due to possible poisoning, home-grown arnica should only be used for external applications.
Where can you buy arnica seeds?
Arnica seeds are available from specialist retailers, as wild collection of the legally protected real arnica is not permitted. When purchasing, pay attention to the desired variety and the germination ability of the seeds.
Where to get arnica seeds
Growing arnica in the garden is not only worthwhile because it is used as a natural remedy, but also because of the attractive, yellow flowers. In suitable locations, arnica is occasionally carried in seed form by the wind or in the fur of animals. You should refrain from collecting the seeds of the legally protected true arnica in the wild. You can find appropriate seeds in specialist shops, which are also tested for their germination ability. But pay close attention to the variety you want: numerous subspecies with visually and medically different key data have now been bred for commercial cultivation and for garden cultivation.
Choose the right location
Selecting the right location is very important for growing arnica in the garden to be successful. Although arnica does not place excessive demands on the soil, the plant does not cope equally well with every terrain. For example, the following conditions should exist in the ideal location for arnica:
- rather acidic soil environment (not too calcareous)
- no waterlogging, but sufficiently moist
- sunny to partially shaded
But you should be aware that the flowers can only be harvested approximately three years after sowing. If you have lime-rich soil in your garden, you can alternatively grow arnica in a planter. Older specimens are usually less sensitive than young arnica plants and can sometimes be successfully transplanted into less acidic soil.
Prefer Arnica indoors or sow directly outdoors
You can sow the arnica directly outdoors from May or distribute the seeds in a suitable location in the garden in autumn. In this case, you should make sure that the young plants are not crowded out by fast-growing weeds. Pre-culture on the windowsill in the house is possible from February. In both cases, the seeds should not be covered with substrate if possible, as they germinate in light.
Tip
Better germination rates for arnica usually occur when the seeds are stratified before sowing. Since sowing outdoors in autumn can be associated with certain difficulties, it is advisable to stratify (mixed with moist sand) in the refrigerator for around 6 weeks at around 4 degrees Celsius before sowing indoors.
