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Common Name: Sweet Coltsfoot

General Information

Petasites frigidus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.15 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. Europe to Northern N. America.

Habitat

Streamsides, moist woods, bogs and other wet places in N. America[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[], but prefers a deep fertile humus-rich soil that is permanently moist but not stagnant, succeeding in shade, semi-shade or full sun[]. Prefers partial shade[]. Plants can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[].
A very invasive plant, too rampant for anything other than the wild garden[, ].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[, , ]. They are mixed with other greens and used as a potherb[, ]. The leaves can also be made into a sauerkraut[].
Young stalks and flower heads - cooked[].
Roots - cooked[, ].
The burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute[]. The stems and leaves, whilst still green, are rolled up into balls, dried and then placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned[]. A very acceptable condiment for piñole[].

Medicinal

Antispasmodic, poultice[].
An infusion of the dried leaves has been used in the treatment of colds, head and chest congestion[].

Other Uses

A good ground cover for the wilder areas of the garden[].
The cotton-like seed heads have been used as a stuffing material for mattresses[].
The leaves have sometimes been folded into conical containers for collecting fruit[]. They have also been used to make a temporary funnel[].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in early spring. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division succeeds at almost any time of the year. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.