Italian Elicriso (Helichrysum italicum) is a plant of the Asteraceae family.
Helichrysum comes from the Greek helios (sun) and chrysos (gold), for the bright yellow color of the flowers.
It’s a perennial plant and the bush reaches 30–40 cms high. It can be found in most of southern Europe and in Italy is native especially to the Liguria region, the central regions, the South and the islands.
It grows in coastal areas in rocky soils and barren land at a altitude up to 800 meters. It is a very common plant and blooms from July to August.
Some subspecies have been found as:
italicum
microphyllum
picardii
pseudolitoreum
serotinum
siculum
Medicine and phytotherapy
Oil is extracted from its flowers. The oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, fungicide and astringent. It’s also known to be a good cough reliever and can help with bronchitis. For external uses it’s soothing for flaky, irritated skin and minor burns. It’s used in perfumes and has an intense fragrance. Dried flowers are used to freshen up linens and living spaces.
In the kitchen
Flowers and leaves have a strong spicy smell, similar to that of curry and licorice and they are best consumed dried. Elicriso in English is called curry plant (pianta del curry); even if it’s not the real plant from which curry leaves are harvested. In the vegan cuisine they are excellent to add flavor to vegetables, potatoes and in any dish with a fusion edge to it and in any recipe where you would use curries and spice mixes. Try to use it finely chopped to a chutney or in fritters. Another use could be for sauteed seitan. The dried flowers can also be added to hot water to make herbal teas.
Gardening
The plant grows wild and it’s sensitive to frost and needs a minimum temperature of 5 °C ( 41°F ) with sun and well drained terrain.
Warnings
No particular warnings are known for Elicriso, unless you are already sensitive to its active ingredients.
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