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Petasites palmatus - (Aiton.)Gray.

Common Name Sweet Butterbur, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, Sweet Coltsfoot, Butterbur
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Low woods, glades and damp clearings[43]. Swamps and along the sides of streams[235].
Range N. America - Newfoundland to Massachusetts, west to Alaska and south to California.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Petasites palmatus Sweet Butterbur, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, Sweet Coltsfoot, Butterbur


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Petasites palmatus Sweet Butterbur, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, Sweet Coltsfoot, Butterbur
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Late winter. Form: Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Petasites palmatus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. It is in flower from February to April, and the seeds ripen in April. 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

Habitats

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

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Stem
Edible Uses: Salt

Young flower stalks, used before the flower buds appear, are boiled until tender and seasoned with salt[172, 177, 183]. Flower buds - cooked[183]. Leafstalks - peeled and eaten raw[105, 177, 183, 257]. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[46, 61, 95, 102, 183]. To prepare the salt, the stems and leaves are rolled up into balls whilst still green, and after being carefully dried they are placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned[213].

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.
Pectoral  Salve  TB

The roots have been used in treating the first stages of grippe and consumption[257]. The dried and grated roots have been applied as a dressing on boils, swellings and running sores[257]. An infusion of the crushed roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes[257]. A syrup for treating coughs and lung complaints has been made from the roots of this species combined with mullein(Verbascum sp.) and plum root (Prunus sp.)[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Seashore, Woodland garden. 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]. Requires a moist shady position[187]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[233]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. 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. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, Invasive, Wetlands plant.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

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 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 hyperboreusArctic Sweet ColtsfootPerennial0.2 4-8 FLMHFSNMWe212
Petasites japonicusSweet Coltsfoot, Japanese sweet coltsfoot, ButterburPerennial0.6 5-9 FLMHFSNMWe321
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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Author

(Aiton.)Gray.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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Subject : Petasites palmatus  
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