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Petasites hyperboreus - Rydb.

Common Name Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Meadows, swampy places and moist woods[60].
Range North-western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Petasites hyperboreus Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot


Petasites hyperboreus Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Petasites hyperboreus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Petasites frigidus nivalis. (Greene.)Cronq.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Meadow; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Stem
Edible Uses: Salt

Young leaves - cooked. A felt-like texture[172]. Young stalks and flower heads - cooked[172]. The burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute[172, 177]. The stems and leaves, whilst still green, are rolled up into balls, dried and then placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned[207]. A very acceptable condiment for piñole[207].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Pectoral  Poultice  Salve

Antispasmodic, poultice, salve[172]. An infusion of the dried, stored leaves has been used in the treatment of colds, head and chest congestion[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Containers  Stuffing

The cotton-like seed heads have been used as a stuffing material in mattresses etc[257]. The leaves have been used to make temporary cone-shaped containers for picking fruit[257]. The leaves have occasionally been used to form makeshift funnels[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will succeed in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. According to one report this species is no more than a synonym of P. frigidus[60]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1], but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun[200]. Prefers partial shade[31]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden[187, 200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in early spring. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division succeeds at almost any time of the year. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Russian Federation (Krasnoyarsk, Tyva, Respublika), Mongolia EUROPE: Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russian Federation-European part (European part)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Petasites albusButterburPerennial0.6 4-8 FLMHFSNM212
Petasites frigidusSweet Coltsfoot, Arctic sweet coltsfoot, Arrowleaf sweet coltsfoot, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, ButterbPerennial0.2 6-10 FLMHFSNMWe212
Petasites hybridusButterbur, Pestilence wortPerennial1.0 4-8 FLMHFSNMWe03 
Petasites japonicusSweet Coltsfoot, Japanese sweet coltsfoot, ButterburPerennial0.6 5-9 FLMHFSNMWe321
Petasites palmatusSweet Butterbur, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, Sweet Coltsfoot, ButterburPerennial0.4 6-10 FLMHFSNMWe21 
Petasites saggitatusArrowleaf Sweet ColtsfootPerennial0.2 - FLMHFSNMWe21 
Petasites speciosa Perennial0.0 - FLMHFSNMWe20 
Petasites vitifoliusArctic sweet coltsfootPerennial0.6 0-0 FLMHFSNMWe10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Rydb.

Botanical References

60

Links / References

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