Around lead mines in the peak district, where for two hundred years up to 1780, the Peak was the most important lead mining area in the world, only plants that can tolerate lead managed to survive and colonise the rakes.
These plants are known as metallophytes (metal tolerant plants) and are of international conservation importance. Leadwort is an example of a Peak District metallophyte.
Plants that have ‘wort’ in the name were once believed to be cures. Spiderwort would save you from spider bites, leadwort was believed to protect from lead poisoning.