Monastery Plants

Dense-flowered mullein (tall and yellow) grows, with other plants, by the church ruins.

Around the ruins of the monastery there is a variety of medicinal plants which were probably introduced when the monastery was established. These include dense-flowered mullein, hound’s tongue, black horehound and burdock. At the farm there are also henbane and scotch thistle. Almost all these species are found only on Eskilsø, which means they were probably introduced for the monks to use. However, we should not forget that Eskilsø is also the biggest island in the fjord, and the only one to have been cultivated.