Bearwort needs little attention, requiring neither dividing nor re-planting. The strong main root, forking with age, goes deep and means the plant can survive even in difficult conditions. In better soil, development into a dense clump is faster. Growing the plant from seed is a slow process, which may be why it is seldom seen for sale at nurseries. It takes several years to gather the large stores of energy needed to produce the dense spring foliage.Bearwort is an old herbal medicine. The whole plant is extremely aromatic. Both leaves and roots have also been used in soups and stews. Milk from cows which have grazed on it is strongly flavoured.