Sweet Fern

Comptonia peregrina

Parts used medicinally

Leaves, bark, fruit.

Medical Uses

Tea is good tonic, astringent; good for skin conditions; digestive tonic.

In tea, general tonic (1 tsp dried plant per cup of boiling water), combined in tea with sweet gale for urinary tract.

Use as wash for poison ivy and other rashes.

Harvest

Late summer.

Cautions

Be certain of identification.

Climate Change Vulnerability

Low.

Factors involved

Sweet fern is both drought and disturbance tolerant.