Petasites japonicus Sweet coltsfoot (Compositae)

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Petasites japonicus
Sweet coltsfoot
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The Petasites japonicus plant species is found in E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. Naturalized in Britain. It is a member of the Compositae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Sweet coltsfoot. Some home gardeners know the variety as Nardosmia japonica.

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Latin Name:  Petasites japonicus
Common Name:  Sweet coltsfoot
Family:  Compositae
Author:  (Sieb.&Zucc.)Maxim.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:  1.5

Habitat:  Moist woods and thickets[58].

Cultivation Notes: 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]. Requires a moist shady position[187]. 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]. Its roots are very difficult to eradicate[200]. The sub-species P. japonicus giganteus has huge leaves up to 1.5 metres across on stems 2 metres tall[187]. It has a poorer flavour than the species type[206]. Sometimes cultivated in E. Asia as a food plant[1, 58]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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