Sweet Coltsfoot, Arctic sweet coltsfoot, Arrowleaf sweet coltsfoot, Golden Palms Coltsfoot, Butterb
Petasites frigidus

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

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

Petasites frigidus 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.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Streamsides, moist woods, bogs and other wet places in N. America.

N. Europe to Northern N. America.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Young leaves - raw or cooked. They are mixed with other greens and used as a potherb. The leaves can also be made into a sauerkraut. Young stalks and flower heads - cooked. Roots - cooked. The burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute. 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. A very acceptable condiment for piñole.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Salt: plants that provide a substitute for salt.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Antispasmodic, poultice. An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of colds, head and chest congestion.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Pectoral: Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.

Poultice: A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Other

Rating: 2

A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden. The cotton-like seed heads have been used as a stuffing material for mattresses. The leaves have sometimes been folded into conical containers for collecting fruit. They have also been used to make a temporary funnel.

Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.

Stuffing: Used in making soft toys, mattresses, pillows etc.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Seashore, Woodland garden. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun. Prefers partial shade. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn. A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, Invasive, Wetlands plant.

Propagating it: 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.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Meadow; Bog Garden;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 6-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

P. speciosa. Tussilago frigida.