Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) is a perennial that thrives in well-drained, damp soils with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. It can tolerate a range of soil types, including nutritionally poor soils, and prefers full sun to partial shade.

Watering

Thoroughly soaking the ground up to 8 cm every few days is recommended, rather than watering a little bit daily. Deep watering encourages roots to grow further into the ground, resulting in a sturdier plant with more drought tolerance.

Care

Sneezewort plants can tolerate maritime exposure, but cannot grow in the shade. They can be grown in meadows, roadsides, ditches, and banks, and are present throughout the UK and northern Ireland, with a more patchy distribution in southern Ireland.

Use

Sneezewort has been used in herbal medicine for various purposes. Chewing the roots of Sneezewort was a recommended treatment for toothache, although the effectiveness of this remedy is unclear. Dried and powdered leaves from this plant have been used as a sneezing powder, and the essential oil extracted from Sneezewort leaves has been used in salads, despite being bitter tasting.