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Herbaceous Perennial

Petasites japonicus

giant butterbur

A substantial plant, producing huge suborbicular leaves to 90cm across, reaching 150cm in height, in summer. Flowers are cream to white, borne in February on stout erect stems to 30cm. The plant normally available is nearly always the male plant

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Petasites are perennial plants, usually large, with thick rhizomes or stems. Leaves are often very large and either heart-shaped or kidney-shaded. Scapes or stems many-headed, with any leaves usually reduced to scales. Flowers dioecious in usually rayless heads, purple or white, rarely yellowish, borne in panicles or racemes at the ends of the scapes
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Korea China Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep humus-rich, fertile soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, in partial or full shade. It may become invasive

Propagation

Divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Remove the old foliage before the onset of new growth in late winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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