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Petasites albus
  • Butterbur

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

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Petasites albus has 0 edible uses listed
Petasites albus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The small fleshy petioles (leaf stems) are very palatable when cooked and eaten like asparagus[1].

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden[2]. It is too invasive to be used in small gardens and is only suitable for covering large areas[3]. The leaves were at one time used by peasants as a head covering[1].
There are no material uses listed for Petasites albus.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is emmenagogue, hypnotic, sedative and vulnerary[1][4]. The ground or finely chopped rhizome has a healing effect when applied to slow-healing or weak ulcers, or to suppurating wounds[1].

An infusion of the leaves is a specific remedy for coughs[1].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[1]. It is used in the treatment of wounds, ulcers etc[1].

Unknown part

Antitussive
Emmenagogue
Homeopathy
Hypnotic
Sedative
Vulnerary

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Petasites albus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[5], but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun[2]. Prefers partial shade[6]. Prefers a heavy soil[3]. 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[8][2].

Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Petasites albus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Petasites albus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Petasites albus
Genus
Petasites
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[1][4]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3][1]
Botanic
[9][2]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    0.6 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious

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    "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    5. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    6. ? Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. ()
    7. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    8. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    9. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    "image:Petasites_albus1.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Petasites_albus&oldid=79202"
    Facts about "Petasites albus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusPetasites +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has binomial namePetasites albus +
    Has common nameButterbur +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partStem +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imagePetasites albus1.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height0.6 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntitussive +, Emmenagogue +, Homeopathy +, Hypnotic +, Sedative + and Vulnerary +
    Has primary imagePetasites_albus1.jpg +
    Has search namepetasites albus + and butterbur +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy namePetasites albus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Petasites albus +, Petasites albus +, Petasites albus +, Petasites albus +, Petasites albus +, Petasites albus + and Petasites albus +