Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

wort [ wawrt ] noun: a plant, particularly an herbaceous plant; a medicinal plant

While the word wort has another meaning in the world of beverage brewing, in botany it survives mostly in the names of herbivorous plants—and a wide variety of them—that historically had traditional medicinal uses, such as St. John’s wort, lungwort , liverwort, lousewort, pilewort, or woundwort. Because it comes from Middle English, ultimately derived from Old English wyrt, meaning branch or root, it is attached to many plants that are not native to the United States. Nevertheless as botanists explored America, they found some plants that are native and yet are of the same species as non-native plants whose common name includes the word wort. And in the early days of our country’s exploration and settlement, traditional medicine was often the only option for treating illness or injury.

Native Eupatorium hyssopifolium (hyssop-leaf thoroughwort) in Bon Air Parks’ Sunny Garden in September.
Photo © Mary Free

Hypericum perforatum (common St. John’s wort) in Highland Park, Pittsburg.
Photo courtesy of Cbaile19

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