Practical
Plants

Petasites frigidus

Sweet Coltsfoot

a perennial member of the Petasites genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
0.15 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[10][12][8]. They are mixed with other greens and used as a potherb[3][8]. The leaves can also be made into a sauerkraut[8]. Young stalks and flower heads - cooked[3]. Roots - cooked[2][3]. The burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute[2]. 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[6]. A very acceptable condiment for piñole[6].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Product or use
Salt
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antispasmodic, poultice[2]. An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of colds, head and chest congestion[8].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden[5]. The cotton-like seed heads have been used as a stuffing material for mattresses[8]. The leaves have sometimes been folded into conical containers for collecting fruit[8]. They have also been used to make a temporary funnel[8].

Product or use
Containers
Product or use
Stuffing

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
N. Europe to Northern N. America.
Habitat
Streamsides, moist woods, bogs and other wet places in N. America[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[5]. Prefers partial shade[9]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[7]. A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden[4][5]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  11. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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