Snowflower

Snowflower is a short-lived flowering perennial with astringent and antitussive properties.

Growth

Snowflower grows low to the ground, stands anywhere from 4 to 12 inches high and is wooly in appearance. The leaves are a silvery-grey color and almost lie flat on the ground, and there are typically three to four tiny white flowers on a stem.

Habitat

In mountainous regions, in Mountain meadows and screes in shaded southern facing areas with light soil and good drainage.

Other Names

None

Uses

Among many things it is an astringent and an antitussive – meaning it is both useful in topical treatment, for small cuts and even in the treatment of scars, and it can also be ingested to help with a bad cough. It is also used as a cure for diarrhea and dysentery, and can also help with sunburn.

Side Effects

None known.

Physical Effects

Generally there are no physical effects associated with this plant other than gradual relief of symptoms. If used on cuts and scrapes, the patient may experience a soothing, cooling sensation.

Other Information

Though these plants are very hardy and can survive extreme condition they are extremely sensitive to change. If flowers are picked from the plant repeatedly quite typically the entire plant will die. They prefer to grow in mossy carpets in hospitable areas, but are seen growing singly as well – typically in scree faces between rocks. It's lack of side effects make it a preferred herb among healers to treat a wide variety of symptoms, but the rarity and difficulty in obtaining the plant makes it a rather rare material to come by.