Petasites hybridus 'Butterbur'

[Ex. Co. Durham, 46m., England]

Asteraceae: A large patch-forming perennial with creeping rhizomes. Grows in damp ground, often beside rivers. Interesting separate-sex plants with flowers of pinkish-red that form robust spikes, up to 40cm tall, appearing before the leaves from March-May. The leaves are huge, up to 1m across, and heart shaped. Locally common across most of the UK. Native to most of Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to Spain, Northern and Western Asia.

USES:

Butterbur is widely considered to be an effective cough remedy and recent experiments have shown it to have remarkable antispasmodic and pain-relieving properties. It acts specifically on the bile ducts, stomach and duodenum. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; in isolation these are toxic to the liver. The root and the leaves have analgesic, antispasmodic, cardiotonic, diaphoretic and diuretic properties. A decoction is taken as a remedy for various respiratory problems such as asthma, colds, bronchitis and whooping cough and also other complaints such as fevers and urinary complaints. It is also very effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal complaints and biliary dyskinesia. Externally it can be used as a poultice to speed the healing of wounds and skin eruptions. The leaves are harvested in early summer, the root in late summer to autumn. Both can be dried for later use. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots, this has been used in the treatment of severe and obstinate neuralgia.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun. Plants are a useful early nectar source for bees. Sow seeds 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.

HARVESTED: 5/2022*

APPROX. 100+ SEEDS