Arctium lappa Great burdock (Compositae)

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Arctium lappa
Great burdock
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The Arctium lappa plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Compositae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Great burdock. Some home gardeners know the variety as A. majus.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Arctium lappa
Common Name:  Great burdock
Family:  Compositae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  Care should be taken if harvesting the seed in any quantity since tiny hairs from the seeds can be inhaled and these are toxic[205].

Mature Height:  2   Mature Width:  1

Habitat:  Waste ground, preferring calcareous soils[7], it is sometimes also found in meadows and woods[9].

Propagation Notes: Seed - best sown in situ in the autumn[200]. The seed can also be sown in spring[206]. Germination can be erratic, it is best to sow the seed in trays and plant out the young plants before the tap-root develops[206]. Seed requires a minimum temperature of 10°c, but a temperature of 20 - 25°c is optimum[206]. Germination rates can be improved by pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours or by scarification[206]. They germinate best in the light[206]. The autumn sowing should be made as late as possible because any plants with roots more than 3mm in diameter in the spring will quickly run to seed if cold temperatures are followed by daylengths longer than 12½ hours[206].

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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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