Botanical Archive No. 008

Horny Goat Weed

Epimedium grandiflorum

This has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Yin Yang Huo. Historical texts describe it as a warming herb traditionally prepared in decoctions, powders, wines, and tonics. There is a legend that its common name originated when a goat herder noticed increased breeding activity among her herd after they ate this plant. Native to China, Japan, Korea, and some parts of eastern Europe, several species have been cultivated in monastery gardens and medical herb collections for generations. It remains one of the best-known traditional herbs of East Asian herbal practices.

Archive record

Harvest

Harvest the leaves after the plant has finished flowering, typically late spring to early summer. If you are harvesting roots, you'll want to do that in autumn, only from mature, cultivated plants. Harvest only a small portion to allow the plant to continue to grow. Flowers bloom first, then the leaves are harvested once the plant has gathered energy from flowering.

Grown

East Asia most common in woodlands and mountain forests.

Bloom time

March- June

Drying notes

They should be dried as soon as possible after harvest. Hang the leaves to dry and keep them out of direct sunlight and with good air circulation throughout the drying process.

Storage

Store in a tightly sealed mason jar out of sunlight.

Recipes

Rarely used as a standalone herb almost always combined with other herbs. You will see it in wines, decoctions, teas, herbal powders, honey pills, and elixirs.

It is slow-growing and known for its orchid-like spring flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is native to mountains in China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of eastern Asia, but it can be grown in home gardens under good conditions. Be patient if you are growing this.

This plant was not originally a part of my apothecary collection, and I have yet to use it in any recipes at this moment. The deep history of this plant has heavily interested me. I'm attempting to grow it, it is long-living, deer and rabbits usually leave it alone, it loves shade and little light, most pests don't like it, and once it is established, it has very, very little maintenance. The downside is it grows slowly, for the first couple of years, it loves organic matter and rich soils. It really doesn't like much sun or having no water, it can take up to three years before you can harvest it, and seeds don't want to germinate. Buying a pre-grown plant is useful.