Giant Butterbur

Petasites japonicus

Also known as

Sweet Coltsfoot, Great Butterbur, Japanese Sweet Coltsfoot, Japanese Butterbur

Full Shade

Moderate watering

Frost Hardy

USDA zone

-18°C

Minimum temperature

Expected size

Height		Spread
1.5m	Max	8m
1m	Min	4m

Flowering

spring
summer
autumn
winter

More images of Giant Butterbur

Japans hoefblad (Petasites japonicus) 03

Japanese Butterbur (Petasites japonicus) - geograph.org.uk - 726083

Giant Butterbur Overview

Native to China, Korea and Japan, these attractive plants are best grown for the cover they provide from their leaves. A shade-loving, herbaceous perennial, it produces large, kidney-shaped leaves measuring around 90 cm wide. They are borne on stalks that can be up to 1 m in length! In late winter and early spring, it produces creamy-white, spherical flowerheads. These are densely clustered, and form before leaves are borne. The timing of the flowers means they provide early nectar for bees.

How to propagate Giant Butterbur

Division

Special features of Giant Butterbur

Ground cover

Attractive leaves

Attracts bees

Other uses of Giant Butterbur

Ground cover, foliage