An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade. It prefers a moderately fertile soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.2 to 8.3. Plants are annuals or short-lived perennials. They are not very hardy when grown outdoors in Britain and so are best grown as an annual. Plants have often self-sown freely in our Cornish trial grounds, but the seed germinates in the autumn and does not manage to survive the winter. Wormseed is sometimes grown as a medicinal and culinary plant, especially in its native Mexico. This sub-species is more active medicinally than the type species and is the form most often cultivated for its vermicidal activity. It is one of the safest and best vermifuges available. The bruised leaves emit an unpleasant foetid odour.

Leaves - cooked. The tender leaves are sometimes used as a potherb. Used as a condiment in soups etc, it is said to reduce flatulence if eaten with beans. The leaves have a rank taste due to the presence of resinous dots and sticky hairs. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins. An infusion of the leaves is a tea substitute.

Seed - whilst it can be sown in situ in mid to late spring, we have had better results by sowing the seed in a cold frame in early spring. Put a few seeds in each pot and thin to the best plant if necessary. Germination rates are usually very good and the seedlings should appear within a few days of sowing the seed. Plant out in late spring, after the last expected frosts.

Mainly found on dry wasteland and cultivated ground.