Petasites saggitatus - Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.2
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	North-western N. America - Labrador to Alaska, south to British Columbia and Colorado.

Petasites saggitatus (Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.2m and a width of 1m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 0.
Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot will flower in November to December. 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

Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot 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
Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Wet places[60].

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
• Suits a meadow
• A bog garden plant

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. 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]. Closely related to P. frigidus[60]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young flower stalks, used before the flower buds appear, are boiled until tender and seasoned with salt[172]. Young leaves - cooked[177]. A felt-like texture[172]. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute[172]. 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].

• Flowers -
• Leaves -
• Salt - plants that provide a substitute for salt.
• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Antispasmodic, poultice, salve[172]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to itchy skin and also to worms that are eating the flesh[257].

• Antispasmodic - Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
• Salve - Soothes and heals damaged skin.

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

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Hitchcock. C. L.
Author: Hitchcock. C. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1955

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

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