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Common Name:

General Information

Petasites vitifolius is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Northern N. America - As far south as Ontario in the west and Quebec in the east.

Habitat

Meadows, swales and boggy woods[]. Wet marshy sites, moist woodlands at elevations of 100 - 1700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will succeed in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. It is treated as a hybrid form of P. frigidus in the Flora of North America[]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus.
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

The ash of the plant is 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

None known

Other Uses

None known

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.