Petasites fragrans
winter heliotrope
A spreading perennial with fleshy rhizomes producing a carpet of kidney-shaped leaves. Clusters of vanilla-scented, pale purple flowers appear from mid-winter to early spring, ahead of the leaves, providing a valuable early nectar source
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Purple |
Position
- Full shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy, Matforming
- 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
- N Africa
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows easily in most soils, and large colonies can develop on roadsides or waste ground. Is a valuable source of early nectar but has the potential to become a nuisance in gardens by smothering other plants. See Butterbur and winter heliotrope for more information
Propagation
Divide in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Banks and slopes
- Ground cover
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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