Medicinal Plants of New England

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American Beach Grass Ammophila breviligulata

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native to North America

Found in Coastal North America

Mature size: 1-2.5’ high, 0.5-1’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in sandy soil in full sun. Lives in coastal beaches, dunes, shores of rivers or lakes.

Hardiness zone: Zones 4,5,6,7,8

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow

Medicinal uses:

·       Uses: Beach grass isn’t very valuable for medicinal purposes, however the roots and grains are edible and can be eaten for nutrients when desperate.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ammophila+breviligulata

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=AMBR

https://www.britannica.com/plant/beach-grass

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Serbian Spruce Picea omorika

Plant community: N/A

Native to Southeastern Europe

Found in Southeastern Europe, streets and gardens in US

Mature size: 40-60’ high, 15-20’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Lives in woodlands, gardens, bogs.

Hardiness zone: Zones 2,3,4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Treatments: tea

·       Uses: A tea from young shoots is a good source of vitamin C.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Picea+omorika

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285034&isprofile=1&basic=Picea%20omorika

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Serbian Spruce Picea omorika

Plant community: N/A

Native to Southeastern Europe

Found in Southeastern Europe, streets and gardens in US

Mature size: 40-60’ high, 15-20’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Lives in woodlands, gardens, bogs.

Hardiness zone: Zones 2,3,4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Treatments: tea

·       Uses: A tea from young shoots is a good source of vitamin C.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Picea+omorika

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285034&isprofile=1&basic=Picea%20omorika

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American Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native to North America

Found in Eastern North America

Mature size: 20-40’ high, 10-15’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Lives in ledges, fens, forests, ridges, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, and woodlands.

Hardiness zone: Zones 2,3,4,5,6,7

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic

·       Treatments: commercial use

·       Uses: The plant is most commonly used in modern herbalism to treat warts and polyps, being prescribed both internally and externally for these conditions

Sources:

Medicinal Botany by Walter Lewis and Memory Elvin-Lewis

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Thuja+occidentalis

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/thuja/occidentalis/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279599&isprofile=1&basic=Thuja%20occidentalis

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Tiger-Tail Spruce Picea polita

Plant community: N/A

Native to Japan

Found in Central US

Mature size: 80-100’ high, 20-30’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in mountainous, well-drained soil in full sun. Lives in forests.

Hardiness zone: Zones 6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Treatments: chewing gum

·       Uses: Resin used as chewing gum to clean teeth.

Sources:

Medicinal Botany by Walter Lewis and Memory Elvin-Lewis

http://conifersociety.org/conifers/conifer/picea/torano/

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Blue Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Western North America, Northeastern US

Mature size: 40-80’ high, 12-20’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Lives in forests.

Hardiness zone: Zones 4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic

·       Treatments: chewing, poultice

·       Uses: Bud tips chewed for canker sores. An antiseptic resin is used in poultices for burns, sores, and other skin ailments

Sources:

Medicinal Botany by Walter Lewis and Memory Elvin-Lewis

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pseudotsuga+menziesii

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PSME

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/pseudotsuga/menziesii/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285009&isprofile=1&basic=Pseudotsuga%20menziesii

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Black Spruce Picea mariana

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Northern North America

Mature size: 30-50’ high, 20-30’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, acidic, well-drained soil in full sun. Lives in forests, bogs, and mountain summits.

Hardiness zone: Zones 2,3,4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiinflammatory

·       Treatments: poultice, salve, infusion, tea

·       Uses: Poultice of the inner bark is applied to inflammations. A tea from the inner bark is used for kidney stones, stomach problems, and rheumatism. A resin from the trunk is made into a salve or poultice for sores to promote healing. The resin can be mixed with oil to make a dressing for purulent wounds, burns, rashes, scabs, and dry skin.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Picea+mariana

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PIMA

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/picea/mariana/

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White Spruce Picea glauca

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Northern North America

Mature size: 40-60’ high, 10-20’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Lives in forests.

Hardiness zone: Zones 2,3,4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: non-flowering

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic

·       Treatments: chewing gum, infusion

·       Uses: Resin used as chewing gum to clean teeth. An infusion of the inner bark is used to treat tuberculosis, colds, coughs, and other chest complaints.

Sources:

Medicinal Botany by Walter Lewis and Memory Elvin-Lewis

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Picea+glauca

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PIGL

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/picea/glauca/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284990&isprofile=1&basic=white%20spruce

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Wooly Beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native to North America

Found in Northeastern North America

Mature size: 1’ high, 1’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in sandy soil in full sun. Lives in dunes, grasslands, and along bodies of water.

Hardiness zone: Zones 3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Leaf color: green

Flower color: orange, yellow

Medicinal uses:

·       Treatments: decoction

·       Uses: Decoction used as a blood purifier.

Sources:

CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names by Umberto Quattrocchi

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/hudsonia/tomentosa/

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HUTO

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Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native to North America

Found in Northeastern North America

Mature size: 2-8’ high, 0.5-1’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in sandy soil in full sun. Lives in coastal beaches, dunes and marshes.

Hardiness zone: Zones 5,6,7,8,9,10

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic, analgesic, astringent, febrifuge

·       Treatments: poultice, topical, ingestion

·       Uses: The root is applied as a poultice to burns.  An infusion of the dried powdered herb can be used as an antiseptic. The flowers are analgesic, astringent and febrifuge. The flowers can be chewed and the juice swallowed to treat sore throats. It is a strong astringent remedy treating lacerations and bleeding

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Solidago+canadensis

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/solidago/sempervirens/

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SOSE

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Red Maple Acer rubrum

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Eastern North America

Mature size: 40-70’ high, 30-50’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, well-drained soil in full to partial sun. Lives in forest edges, forests, meadows, fields, along bodies of water, swamps, wetlands, and woodlands.

Hardiness zone: Zones 3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: analgesic

·       Treatments: wash, topical, tea

·       Uses: Native Americans used red maple bark as an analgesic, wash for inflamed eyes and cataracts, and as a remedy for hives and muscular aches. Tea brewed from the inner bark has been used for treating coughs and diarrhea.

Sources:

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/acer/rubrum/

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_acru.pdf

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=275374&isprofile=1&basic=acer%20rubrum

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Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Eastern North America

Mature size: 50-75’ high, 50-75’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in average, dry, acidic soil in full sun. Lives in forests and woodlands.

Hardiness zone: Zones 4,5,6,7,8

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic, astringent, emetic, febrifuge

·       Treatments: ingestion, wash, topical

·       Uses: The bark and inner bark are antiseptic, astringent, emetic, and reduce fevers. It is used in the treatment of indigestion, asthma, severe coughs, hoarseness, fevers, and bleeding. It is used as a wash for rashes and burns. The bark can be chewed as a treatment for mouth sores. The bark contains tannins, experimentally these have been shown to be antiviral and antiseptic. Any galls can be used in the treatment of lacerations.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Quercus+rubra

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/quercus/rubra/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280723&isprofile=1&basic=quercus%20rubra

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European Beech Fagus sylvatica

Plant community: N/A

Native to Europe

Found in Northeastern US, Southeastern Canada

Mature size: 50-60’ high, 35-50’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in rich, moist, well-drained soils in full to partial sun. Lives in disturbed habitats, forest edges, and forests.

Hardiness zone: Zones 4,5,6,7,8,9

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antipyretic, antiseptic, antitussive, expectorant, odontalgic

·       Treatments: topical

·       Uses: A tar derived from the distillation of the branches is antiseptic. The tar is applied to the chest to decrease coughs and loosen phlegm.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Fagus+sylvatica

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/fagus/sylvatica/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280764&isprofile=1&basic=Fagus%20sylvatica

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Yellow Chestnut Oak Quercus muehlenbergii

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Eastern North America

Mature size: 40-60’ high, 50-70’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in well-drained loams in full sun. Lives in forests, ridges, or rocky slopes

Hardiness zone: Zones 5,6,7

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: astringent, antiemetic

·       Treatments: infusion

·       Uses: Bark infusion taken to prevent vomiting. Any galls are astringent and can be used to treat lacerations.

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Quercus+muehlenbergii

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/quercus/muehlenbergii/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280722&isprofile=1&basic=Quercus%20muehlenbergii

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Mountain Chestnut Oak Quercus montana

Plant community: N/A

Native to Eastern US

Found in Eastern US

Mature size: 50-70’ high, 50-70’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in dry, well-drained loams in full sun. Lives in ridges, rocky slopes, forests, and woodlands.

Hardiness zone: Zones 4,5,6,7,8

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: astringent

·       Uses: Any galls produced are astringent and can be used to treat lacerations.

Sources:

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/quercus/montana/

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=QUMO4

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=366134&isprofile=1&basic=quercus%20montana

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White Oak Quercus alba

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Eastern North America

Mature size: 50-80’ high, 50-80’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in rich, moist, acidic, well-drained loams in full sun. Lives in floodplain, swamps, forests, and woodlands.

Hardiness zone: Zones 3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow-green

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic, emetic

·       Treatments: decoction

·       Uses: Bark decoction for sore lips. Chew bark for sore mouth. Bark has high concentration of tannins, and were used to treat dysentery.

Sources:

Medicinal Botany by Walter Lewis and Memory Elvin-Lewis

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280711&isprofile=1&basic=quercus%20alba

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=QUAL

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/quercus/alba/

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Mountain Maple Acer Spicatum 

Plant community: N/A

Native to North America

Found in Northeastern US, Southeastern Canada

Mature size: 10-25’ high, 10-20’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in moist, rich soil in full sun. Lives in forests, ridges, ledges, rocky slopes, woodlands, and along water sources.

Hardiness zone: Zones 3,4,5,6

Leaf color: green

Flower color: white

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: astringent

·       Treatments: infusion, poultice

·       Uses: Infusion of pith from young twigs used to wash out eyes and remove debris. Infusion or poultice of outer bark used to treat sore eyes

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acer+spicatum

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/acer/spicatum/

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ACSP2