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Petasites albus - (L.)Gaertn.

Common Name Butterbur
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Waste ground, roadsides, plantations and woods[17], often in damp soils[1].
Range N. and C. Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Petasites albus Butterbur


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Petasites albus Butterbur
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Petasites albus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) 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 in May. 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 and can grow in heavy clay soil. 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 soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Tussilago alba.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Meadow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Stem
Edible Uses:

The small fleshy petioles (leaf stems) are very palatable when cooked and eaten like asparagus[7].

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.
Antitussive  Emmenagogue  Homeopathy  Hypnotic  Sedative  Vulnerary

The root is emmenagogue, hypnotic, sedative and vulnerary[7, 172]. The ground or finely chopped rhizome has a healing effect when applied to slow-healing or weak ulcers, or to suppurating wounds[7]. An infusion of the leaves is a specific remedy for coughs[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[7]. It is used in the treatment of wounds, ulcers etc[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden[200]. It is too invasive to be used in small gardens and is only suitable for covering large areas[208]. The leaves were at one time used by peasants as a head covering[7].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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]. Prefers a heavy soil[208]. 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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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 Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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 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 hyperboreusArctic Sweet ColtsfootPerennial0.2 4-8 FLMHFSNMWe212
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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Gaertn.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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Subject : Petasites albus  
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