Arnica cordifolia

“Heartleaf Arnica”

Arnica cordifolia is a perennial dicot from the Asteraceace, or sunflower, family. Arnica comes from the Latin term meaning “lamb’s skin,” which refers to the soft leaves of the plant. Cordifolia means “heart shaped,” and the two combined give rise to the plant’s common name, “Heartleaf Arnica.” First collected by Thomas Drummond in the 19^th century, Arnica cordifolia was later named and described by William Hooker in his book Flora Boreali-American in 1834.

The Heartleaf Arnica species is widely distributed across the entire North American continent, from Alaska, east to Saskatchewan, Canada, and south to Nebraska and into Northern Mexico. This common wildflower is found in regions above 1050 meters and occurrence generally increases with elevation. In Utah, this species is found typically in the range of 1570-3490 meters and is very prominent in the higher mountain ranges such as the Wasatch and Uintahs.

Most plants have only one bright yellow flower at the tip of each stem. The flowers usually have 8-15 petals each that are about 1.5-3 centimeters long, and the stems are covered with small glandular or white hairs. Plants average about 18 inches in height but can grow up to 0.5 meters. With an average lifespan of about 12 years, the plants flower in July of each year and die back to the ground every winter. Heartleaf Arnica requires moist soils, preferably those that are neutral or slightly acidic. They are tolerant of both sunny and shady conditions.

Heartleaf Arnica has been utilized throughout history for many purposes. Beginning hundreds of years ago with the Native Americans, Arnica cordifolia was an ingredient in many medicinal remedies and continues to be used today. Though all parts of the plant may be used, the flowers are preferred. When steeped in water, the flowers can be made into external applications used to treat wounds, bruises, and swelling. When applied to open wounds as a salve, the flowers’ chemicals act as an antibacterial agent to reduce the risk of infection. Studies have been done at prominent research facilities like Harvard Medical School to investigate other healing properties of Heartleaf Arnica in ailments such as stroke, diabetic eye damage, and muscle soreness. Aside from its healing properties, Arnica cordifolia has also been used as an ingredient in hair conditioner and various other beauty products. It is also occasionally grazed by cattle and other livestock.

created by Brittany Folks