Orris Root

The dried and powdered root of this lovely pale lavender/Blue Iris has been used for centuries in the world of perfumery and was commonly added to freshen laundry and as an ingredient in potpourri for clothing in old Europe. Orris Root was also used traditionally as a whole dry root to chew on for freshening breath and as an anti-inflammatory for teething babies where the root can be rubbed on the gums or chewed on for some pain relief! It is rarely used internally today but adds a sweet, violet-like fragrance to creams and body products. It can also mask body odor when used in a powder form. The root has also been found to aid respiratory issues and can be purgative as well and has a long history of use as a blood purifier. In modern times, it is not often used internally and must be dried first and treated as a very low dose botanical!  The Orris Root Iris is hardy and easy to grow, beautiful in bloom and a sweet centerpiece to any medicinal garden. Perennial. Hardiness Zones 3-10.