Petasites albus - Butterbur

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	1
Synonyms:	Tussilago alba.
Range:	N. and C. Europe. Naturalized in Britain.

Petasites albus (Butterbur) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 1m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 5.
Butterbur will flower in October to November. the seeds ripen from November
The flowers from this plant are dioecious (each plant is either male or female, thus both genders need to be present to seed) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Butterbur will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Butterbur prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Butterbur can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Waste ground, roadsides, plantations and woods[17], often in damp soils[1].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds
• Suits a meadow

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.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
The small fleshy petioles (leaf stems) are very palatable when cooked and eaten like asparagus[7].

• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
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].

• Antitussive - Prevents or relieves coughing.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
• Hypnotic - Induces sleep.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

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.

Known Hazards

None known

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].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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