EW plants are more detested by gardeners than the ground elder. ‘Where it hath taken root, it will hardly be gotten out again, spoiling and getting every year more ground, to the annoying of better herbs,’ warned John Gerard in his illuminating 1597 . Ironically, it was wished upon us with good intent. It was originally native across Europe and Asia and the Romans brought it across the Channel as a food and medicinal plant; caring Christian monks continued to spread it. Of all the heritage that Pax Romana and early religious fervour granted us, ground elder is probably the least appreciated legacy. At least, the Anglo-Saxons found it helped
