Common Butterbur
Petasites hybridus
Also known as Butterbur, Pestilence Wort, Bog-rhubarb
Climate Match for your location
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A vigorous perennial with large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge after its early spring flower spikes. Best suited to wet areas and woodland margins where it can spread freely.
Why grow it
Butterbur offers early spring interest through its distinctive flower spikes, which emerge before most woodland understory plants. Its large leaves provide substantial ground coverage in persistently wet or boggy sites where fewer perennials thrive, making it useful for stabilizing wet margins and reducing bare soil. Compared to other moisture-loving perennials, butterbur tolerates shade well and establishes quickly in appropriate conditions.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously through rhizomes and can be difficult to contain once established; placement away from cultivated garden beds is advisable. The foliage emerges late in spring after flowering, leaving bare ground in early season. Butterbur requires consistent moisture and performs poorly in dry soils, so site selection in truly wet areas is essential to its success.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Central Europe and temperate Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A vigorous perennial with large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge after its early spring flower spikes. Best suited to wet areas and woodland margins where it can spread freely.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Butterbur grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Butterbur offers early spring interest through its distinctive flower spikes, which emerge before most woodland understory plants. Its large leaves provide substantial ground coverage in persistently wet or boggy sites where fewer perennials thrive, making it useful for stabilizing wet margins and reducing bare soil. Compared to other moisture-loving perennials, butterbur tolerates shade well and establishes quickly in appropriate conditions.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously through rhizomes and can be difficult to contain once established; placement away from cultivated garden beds is advisable. The foliage emerges late in spring after flowering, leaving bare ground in early season. Butterbur requires consistent moisture and performs poorly in dry soils, so site selection in truly wet areas is essential to its success.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Central Europe and temperate Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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