Stari Grki so ga uporabljali za odvajalo, diuretik in emetik (sredstvo za bruhanje). Naj bi pomagal pri kožnih boleznih (Galen), pa za vnete oči (Dioskoridis), Plinij pa je rekel, da povzroča miren sen. Uporabljali za pripravo ljubezenskega napitka.
Stari Rimljani so ga imenovali Jupitrovo oko ali Jupitrova brada (Jovibarba, tudi Jovisbarbam - v stari francoščini Joubarde), Gojili so ga v posebnih vazah pred hišami. Posvojili so ga Germani, ki so ga imeli za Torovo brado (Donnersoart). Iz te dobe izvira vera v njegova moč varovanja pred strelo in neurjem. Karel Veliki je zaukazal, da ga je treba saditi po strehah (Et ille hortulanus habeat super domum suam Iovis barbam)
Stran iz ukaza Karla Velikega Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii.
Prevod 70. člena v Angleščino:
http://khkeeler.blogspot.com/2013/06/plant-story-common-houseleek.html
70. It is our wish that they shall have in their gardens all kinds of plants: lily, roses, fenugreek, costmary, sage, rue, southernwood, cucumbers, pumpkins, gourds, kidney-bean, cumin, rosemary, caraway, chick-pea, squill, gladiolus, tarragon, anise, colocynth, chicory, ammi, sesili, lettuces, spider's foot, rocket salad, garden cress, burdock, penny-royal, hemlock, parsley, celery, lovage, juniper, dill, sweet fennel, endive, dittany, white mustard, summer savory, water mint, garden mint, wild mint, tansy, catnip, centaury, garden poppy, beets, hazelwort, marshmallows, mallows, carrots, parsnip, orach, spinach, kohlrabi, cabbages, onions, chives, leeks, radishes, shallots, cibols, garlic, madder, teazles, broad beans, peas, coriander, chervil, capers, clary. And the gardener shall have house-leeks growing on his house. As for trees, it is our wish that they shall have various kinds of apple, pear, plum, sorb, medlar, chestnut and peach; quince, hazel, almond, mulberry, laurel, pine, fig, nut and cherry trees of various kinds. The names of apples are: gozmaringa, geroldinga, crevedella, spirauca; there are sweet ones, bitter ones, those that keep well, those that are to be eaten straightaway, and early ones. Of pears they are to have three or four kinds, those that keep well, sweet ones, cooking pears and the late-ripening ones.
Herbarium Apulei (Lombardija, 15. stoletje). Čarovnice so ga imenovale hudičeva brada.