Butterbur came to my garden by accident, while trying to buy a Chilean for a gunner. Gunnera is a powerful plant with huge leaves, originally from the subtropics. Therefore, in the open field, the gunner winters poorly in regions with severe winters.

The plant I bought not only perfectly endured all our weather hardships, but also multiplied remarkably. Over time, it spread to the sides, like a malicious weed, occupying the vast territory of the garden.

In fact, this newcomer to my collection of rare plants turned out to be the most common butterbur, which in Rus' was called the “king-grass” because of the large size of the leaves.
I will tell the readers of the site site about this wonderful plant and its versatile application.

Ornamental types of butterbur

Butterbur (Petasites) belongs to the Compositae family; this genus includes about 20 species, widely distributed in Russia.
The butterbur leaf is whitish below, and in shape it resembles the imprint of a horse's hoof - hence the Russian name of this plant.

Butterburs have cord-like superficial roots, large or very large leaves on vertically standing petioles. Under favorable conditions, butterbur grows in extensive thickets along the banks of natural reservoirs.

Most likely, he got into my garden butterbur hybrid(Petasites hybridus) - a common plant with large leaves, often found near rivers and in ravines. It differs from other species in reddish or dirty purple flowers. The plant reaches a height of 80 cm. The diameter of a rounded heart-shaped leaf is about half a meter.

Another widespread type is butterbur is not real, or felt(Рetasites spurius, Tussilago spuria). It differs in smaller sizes (up to 50 cm) and triangular-heart-shaped leaves. At first, the leaves are densely covered with white felt on both sides, and later they become almost bare from above.

Far Eastern butterbur wide(Petasites amplus) has a very impressive size: the petioles of its leaves exceed human height, and the diameter of the leaves is more than 1 meter.

An interesting feature of this plant: the flower stalks of the butterbur appear in early spring, its flowers rich in nectar and pollen are one of the first to open - when the coltsfoot blooms. They are usually whitish-yellow, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. Butterbur leaves begin to grow after flowering.

Cultivation and propagation of butterbur

Butterbur is a dioecious plant; seed formation was not observed.
To avoid unwanted self-seeding of volatile butterbur seeds, faded inflorescences are pruned on time.
This plant reproduces quickly and easily vegetatively; pieces of rhizome are placed immediately in a permanent place.

Butterbur is unpretentious, able to grow almost anywhere and in any soil (even in sand), provided that there is water nearby. The plant does not do well on very heavy soils and in a dry place, and it also does not tolerate dense shade.

Potentially huge growth of butterbur leaves in rich soil with sufficient moisture is fully manifested. The more humus in the soil, the more willingly this plant grows its huge leaves - its main decoration.

My butterbur grows next to the river, next to the willows. Here he has enough light (light penumbra comes from the willows), the soil is fertile and moist - the most favorable conditions for him. Therefore, the butterbur felt very comfortable here and quickly occupied a vast area.

If the butterbur distribution area is not limited, then its rhizomes quickly spread in different directions, drowning out weeds and crowding cultivated plants. When trying to dig up extra butterbur rhizomes, if even a small piece with a kidney remains in the ground, it gives life to a new specimen. As a result, it is very difficult and time-consuming to destroy this plant.
But I noticed: if the soil in the garden is not wet (there is no nearby reservoir and close-lying groundwater), then the plant behaves much more modestly, less aggressively. However, in this case, the butterbur will not be able to show its main decorative advantage - to grow huge leaves on high petioles.

Butterbur reproduces well by segments of rhizomes; it is better to plant them in autumn. You can do this in the spring, but during the autumn planting, the plant takes root and develops better and faster. Then in the first year it will grow beautiful, powerful leaves.

Butterbur planting and care

If your garden initially does not have a suitable place for planting butterbur, then you need to prepare it as follows. Dig a hole (about a shovel bayonet or a little deeper) and fill it with a fertile substrate.
A mixture consisting of soddy soil, humus, peat and sand is recommended in approximately equal proportions (sand can be added a little more).

The overgrown butterbur successfully drowns out all weeds - under the continuous canopy of its beautiful leaves, the soil is completely clean, there is not a single extraneous sprout.

Butterbur care in the garden consists only in maintaining sufficient soil moisture.

With strong soil moisture, the plant can be damaged by eating large holes in its decorative leaves.
Butterbur leaves are damaged by the caterpillars of many beautiful butterflies.

Various uses of butterbur

Moisture-loving butterbur with its huge leaves looks very impressive and organic near a large garden pond.

In damp places, large specimens of butterbur can successfully decorate the unsightly corners of a spacious garden.
This plant looks great under large trees, near the walls of buildings, near the fence.

Some types of butterbur in different countries are grown as a vegetable crop and used as a food plant - they prepare a variety of dishes from young peduncles and leaves, from rhizomes.

Butterbur has been used since ancient times as a medicine. It has antispasmodic, wound healing, soothing, expectorant, antihelminthic and diaphoretic properties.

Healing infusion of butterbur leaves: brew 2 teaspoons of chopped raw materials with 1 cup of boiling water; insist when wrapping 1 hour. Strain, drink 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
Be careful and careful when using butterbur: the plant is POISONOUS, be sure to consult a specialist.

Butterbur leaves are harvested in July-August, before autumn spots appear on them.
Dry the collected leaves in a well-ventilated area, spreading them under a canopy in a thin layer on paper or cloth.

This type of butterbur is quite well known and belongs to the Asteraceae family.

Has many different names:

• coltsfoot hybrid;
• butterbur officinalis, ovoid, common;
• petasites;
• nardomia;
• recumbent grass;
• maternik, mother liquor;
• king-grass, royal root;
• plague grass, plague root;
• baptized.

In spring, the young shoots of this moisture-loving herbaceous plant are sometimes confused with coltsfoot. However, they are not much mistaken: before, botanists ranked them in the same genus. Medicinal characteristics are also similar.

Description

- perennial, loves to grow in marshy alkaline soils. Sometimes its dense thickets can be found right in the water, on the rifts of small forest streams. In earlier times, better known as petazites ("hatter") or nardosmia ("water burdock"), it was considered a magical plant with strong medicinal properties. Mystics from the order of the Rosicrucians ranked it among the circle of twelve sacred zodiac herbs. It is found everywhere in areas with a temperate climate - in Europe, Russia, the USA.

Popular in landscaping for its weed control and pleasing appearance, with large, rounded, juicy green leaves and large, elegant spike-shaped inflorescences of a pale beet color. The leaves reach 70 cm in diameter, and the massive petiole can stretch up to 120 cm. It blooms in April-May, attracting many bees, and the fleshy leaves in the summer season serve as food for caterpillars of butterflies of such families as Swallowtails, Sailboats, Bears.

Compound

The composition of the leaves, roots and peduncles includes a few alkaloids, flavonoids (astragalin, quercetin, isoquercitrin), petazin and its derivatives, triterpene saponins, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (petazol esters), carotene and vitamin C, as well as resins, mucus, bitterness, tannins, stearin, inulin, choline, essential oils, tannins and organic acids. A lot of manganese, especially in the leaves.

Medicinal properties

Due to a fair amount of disinfectant components, hybrid butterbur is traditionally used as an expectorant, analgesic, anthelmintic and antispasmodic.

Medicinal use

Since ancient times, hybrid butterbur has been recognized as an effective antirheumatic agent - compresses with gruel from fresh leaves wrap sore spots for arthritis, gout, rheumatism. The same is done in cases of traumatic injuries of the joints and tendons, with fractures, injuries of the skin and edema of various origins. Aqueous solutions block cough during acute respiratory illness, bronchitis, tracheitis, relieve swelling of the throat affected by tonsillitis or pharyngitis.

Esters of petasin and S-petasin in the composition of modern pharmaceutical preparations successfully fight allergic reactions and migraines. As a component of the medicinal collection, petazites hybrid fights against anacid gastritis - the third phase of the disease, when, due to a violation of the enzyme system and a weakening of the mucous membrane, the acid-forming activity of the stomach stops.

Recipes

Gargle for throat (tonsillitis, SARS):

2 tsp dried roots of butterbur hybrid pour 1 cup of boiling water. Cool down. Add 3 drops of 5% alcohol solution of iodine. Rinse 2 times a day - morning and evening.

constipation remedy:

1 tsp crushed petasite roots, place in a bundle of gauze or brewing clip, dip in ½ cup of hot linseed oil, heat for 15-20 minutes in a steam bath. Extract roots. Squeeze 2 garlic cloves into the oil. Divide the mixture into 3 doses throughout the day.

Infusion (against fever and fever, diuretic, anthelmintic):

2 tsp leaves for 1 cup boiling water, leave warm for at least an hour, drain the liquid, add 1 tbsp. l. honey. Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day.

Contraindications

The presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause serious poisoning,

Butterbur is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. It is also known under the names "podbel", "mother liquor", "threshing root", "royal root", "plague grass". Distributed from the Far East to central Russia. Most ornamental varieties grow outside the Russian Federation, which does not prevent you from growing your favorite variety in any garden of a temperate or subarctic climate. A distinctive feature of butterbur are large embossed leaves with a soft pile. The plant is used to decorate the garden and the banks of reservoirs. Also, some varieties are used in traditional medicine. Butterbur care in the open field is not difficult. Even a novice gardener can grow dense thickets.

Botanical characteristics

Butterbur is an exotic herbaceous perennial. It has a long, fibrous root that grows horizontally and close to the ground surface. Under natural conditions, the stem of the butterbur reaches a height of 30-200 cm. Scale-like sessile leaves are located along the entire length of the thick shoot. The winding trunk grows immediately after the snow melts. Its top is decorated with a dense corymbose or paniculate inflorescence. It consists of many small white-green, yellowish or dirty purple flowers. Tubular and reed corollas bloom in mid-spring. After the end of the flowering period, the stem continues to grow.

At the end of May, large leaves appear on long, massive petioles from the ground. The leaf blade is heart-shaped. The edges of the sheet can be solid, serrated or dissected. On the reverse side, and sometimes on the front, there is a dense felt pubescence. The maximum leaf width is 1.5 m. The strong petiole can reach a width of 5-6 cm.

After pollination, several single-seeded bolls with a large tuft ripen on the stem. Ripening is completed in June, after which the seeds are carried by wind or water.

Types and varieties of butterbur

There are 20 species in the genus Butterbur. The most popular of them:

Herbaceous perennial up to 60 cm high has a reddish scaly stem. At the top of the shoot, a racemose inflorescence of gray-purple tubular flowers blooms. In June, large heart-shaped leaves of bright green color appear. They are covered with soft pile and exude a sharp, not very pleasant smell. The leaf diameter is 60-70 cm.

A plant 30-70 cm high has a dense scaly stem of green-burgundy color. Reddish tubular flowers are grouped in baskets, which, in turn, are in a spike-shaped inflorescence. The round-reniform foliage is densely covered with a gray pile. The width of its leaf reaches 70 cm. The leaves are located on thick, erect petioles up to 1.2 m long.

In early April, dense greenish-pink columns grow out of the ground. They are crowned with cylindrical baskets with white or yellowish flowers. Large, triangular-heart-shaped foliage has uneven teeth along the edges and a dark green color. Leaves up to 80 cm wide are located on petioles 1 m long. On the reverse side and along the veins on the front surface, they are densely pubescent.

Reproduction methods

Butterbur is propagated by seed and vegetative methods. Seeds can be sown in autumn or spring in open ground, as well as grow seedlings. For the seedling method, crops are produced in early February in boxes with sandy-peat soil. Seeds are well moistened and covered with a film. Crops should be aired and sprayed daily. Shoots appear within 1-3 weeks. When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. At the end of May, grown plants can be planted in open ground. Flowering seedlings are expected 3-4 years after planting.

Quite easily, butterbur reproduces by segments of the root. The procedure is best done in September. Spring division is not always successful. It is only necessary to separate a section 5-7 cm long. It is immediately planted in a new place and watered abundantly. Before the autumn cold snap, the rhizome will grow and form buds, and in the spring the first shoots will appear.

plant care

Butterbur is easy to care for, but requires careful selection of habitat. He prefers the proximity of a reservoir and wet soils. It is desirable to find a site in partial shade, but it is also possible in full shading. Periodic direct sunlight on the leaves is allowed, but not during the midday hours.

The rhizome of the plant is quite aggressive. It easily occupies large areas. In order not to subsequently have to fight for the territory, when landing, plastic panels are dug into the ground to a depth of 60-80 cm.

The soil for butterbur should be fertile and have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The plant is undemanding to the density of the earth. It can develop both on light and clay soils. In the first years of life, seedlings are modest in size. So that weeds do not interfere with their development, it is recommended to do periodic weeding.

Butterbur is a hardy plant. It winters up to the subarctic zone without shelter. The ground part dies off in autumn. It needs to be cut down to the ground. After the flowers wither, it is recommended to cut the flower stalks to prevent uncontrolled self-seeding.

The plant develops best in high humidity, so coastal specimens will always be larger. Butterbur will also have to be watered often, because large foliage evaporates a lot of moisture. In strong heat, the leaves may droop, but by evening they restore their former shape.

The plant does not need regular feeding. In early spring, you can mulch the soil with compost or peat. This will be enough for active growth and flowering.

Podbel does not suffer from plant diseases, but slugs and caterpillars love it. Perhaps they are attracted to dampness, which is necessary for plant growth. To prevent the leaves from becoming covered with ugly holes, you will have to use insecticides.

Beneficial features

In the leaves and roots of butterbur, scientists have found organic acids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and essential oils. Decoctions are used as an effective expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic and antihelminthic. They help to calm the nerves and overcome hypertension at an early stage of the disease.

Fresh crushed leaves are applied to wounds and inflammations on the skin. They anesthetize, stop bleeding and destroy the infection. An ointment with the addition of leaves is applied to problem areas of the skin to get rid of acne and boils.

Butterbur-based preparations are contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, children, and people with low blood pressure. It should also be borne in mind that the use of decoctions leads to a sharp decrease in blood sugar levels.

Attention! The alkaloids that make up the roots and petioles are toxic. With regular use, they cause liver cancer and other serious diseases of the internal organs. For this reason, it is very important to follow the dosage and coordinate the treatment with the doctor.

Butterbur in cooking

Young flower stalks and leaves of varieties of cold butterbur and Japanese butterbur are used in cooking. They are boiled, fried, marinated and eaten raw. The taste of the product resembles celery or rhubarb. Butterbur dishes can be found in Japanese restaurants. They are used to make sushi. In some countries, the plant is grown as a fodder crop.

Use in the garden

Very beautiful and large leaves attract a lot of attention. Such an exotic plant will appeal to the owners and all the neighbors. It is only important to properly organize plantings and limit the habitat of the butterbur, so as not to fight with its processes later.

Dense thickets will hide outbuildings, a fence, or other places that need camouflage. The plant is suitable for decorating the coastal zone. It also inhibits the growth of weeds, so the need for weeding the site will gradually disappear.

The best neighbors for butterbur are elecampane, hogweed, comfrey, rhubarb, as well as sprawling deciduous shrubs and large trees.

(Petasites)- a genus of perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the Astrov family (Asteraceae). Includes about 20 species, distributed mainly in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. Two species are found in the European part of Russia. Most often grow along the banks of reservoirs, in damp and wetlands.

The genus owes its name to wide large leaves, shaped like a horse's hoof print.

Plant height from 30 to 150 cm, depending on the species. It is rare to find two-meter plants. Rhizome powerful, creeping, cord-like, up to 1.5 m long. The shoots are juicy and thick, covered with scaly, membranous, stalked leaves. At the beginning of growth in early spring, stems with adjacent leaves emerge from the ground, ending in unusual spike-shaped inflorescences that look like morel mushrooms. Some species are dioecious, i.e. male and female flowers are produced on different plants. Flowering occurs in April - early May before the basal leaves bloom. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish or pinkish. At the end of flowering, the shoots stretch out, reaching their maximum height, and fruits with seeds are tied, and then they are replaced by large basal leaves that die off with autumn frosts.

The most commonly cultivated butterbur is broad (Petasites amplus). In nature, it is endemic to the Far East and China. It has rounded spike-shaped inflorescences, more like shields. Its pale green flowers are of little interest, but the huge, up to 150 cm in diameter, lush green leaves on high petioles form very beautiful curtains that look great in the garden, decorating uneven, empty, well-moistened places. In addition to the natural look, there are varieties - variegated "Variegata" with creamy uneven strokes and "Purpureus" - with a reddish tinge of petioles and foliage plates.

It is inferior in size to the broadbutterbur, but in general it looks like it. Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus) up to 45 cm high. Some authors (T.Yu. Konovalova, N.A. Shevyreva, "Plants for reservoirs") combine them into a single species. Given the high variability of butterburs in nature, the separation of species is very difficult.

Can be grown in gardens less tall (20-60 cm) natural species of hybrid origin - hybrid butterbur (Petasites hybridus), ubiquitous in Russia in lowlands, damp ravines and along river banks. Differs in elongated racemose inflorescences, in which baskets of off-white or pink color are enclosed in purple wrappers. The flower-bearing stem with leaves has a purple tint, which is then present in the color of the petioles and leaf veins. The leaves are gray-felt-pubescent, young - on both sides, then only from the inside. Among the people there are other names for this butterbur: maternik, royal root, king grass, burdock, podbel, plague grass. It has medicinal properties and is used in traditional medicine.

For landing in the shallow water of a reservoir, smooth butterbur is also suitable, or radiant(Petasites radiatus), previously called nardosmia smooth - a wild plant in Central Europe, the Urals and Siberia up to 60 cm tall with medium-sized leaves and corymbose inflorescences from greenish-white baskets surrounded by rare marginal petals. It is not found in nurseries, but can be taken from nature.

Butterbur can be planted near fences, next to the porch and in other places even exposed to the sun. The main thing is to provide the plants with enough moisture. However, butterbur gives preference to shaded, damp lowlands. The most successful place for him is on the shore of a garden pond and in shallow water up to 40 cm deep. Here he looks great and does not allow various weeds to spread, forming dense lush green thickets.

The best soils for butterbur are well-moistened, clayey, and quite fertile.

Care consists in the timely watering of those plants that are planted in open sunny areas away from water bodies. To prevent self-seeding, it is recommended to cut off faded inflorescences. Often there is a need to restrain the growth of curtains with the help of wide plastic tapes or special root barriers made of thick mesh. Young butterbur leaves are attacked by slugs, from which it is worth taking preventive measures - laying out traps, periodically sprinkle the ground under plants with irritating ash, superphosphate, red pepper.

Butterbur is propagated by cuttings, leaf buds with a piece of rhizome or segments of the rhizomes themselves, which are transplanted immediately to a permanent place in August-September. Mature seeds can also be used, although this method is rarely used when breeding this fast growing plant.

If your garden has large empty areas, uncultivated waterfronts, or you just like the lush greenery of large-leaved plants, plant butterbur - it will transform your garden in a very short time and with minimal labor on your part.

Description: in the midst of spring, on the edges of arable land and along the edges of the edges, you may be lucky enough to see amazing dense pink or white spherical inflorescences crawling right out of the ground.

Photo by Andrey Sedov

This butterbur is a very peculiar and ornamental plant. , unfortunately, not too well known to our gardeners, despite the fact that two of its species are found in Europe. Try to mark the place of your meeting with the butterbur, and in the fall, dig up its rhizome and transplant it into your garden. Then in the spring he will surely please you with his unusual inflorescences. The most decorative and rapidly multiplying is the broad butterbur.

There are about 20 species in the genus, native to the Northern Hemisphere. All species have similar features and common agrotechnical requirements. They form extensive, and sometimes difficult to pass thickets. Leaves are only basal. They are rounded, petiolate, covered with white pubescence from below. Rhizomes underground, cord-like, strongly sprawling. They grow extremely fast. They bloom in a very original way in the spring before the development of the leaves.

In Central Russia, three species of the genus Butterbur are found in nature, which do not represent a special decorative value. The homeland of ornamental species is the Far East, where these plants are an integral part of the specific tall grass.

Butterbur wide- Petasites amplus kitam. Narrow range, East Asian island type: Russia (Sakhalin, usually in the southern and middle parts, Moneron, Kuriles, usually Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup, Urup, Simushir, Ketoi, Ushishir, Rasshua, Matua), Japan (Hokkaido, Honshu) . Sakhali-no-smoked-North Japanese endemic. It grows along the banks of streams and rivers, in valley floodplain forests, in depressions on mountain slopes, at the foot of sea terraces, on outcrops. Perennial with a long branched rhizome. The maximum height of butterbur thickets reaches 1.5 m. In early spring, immediately after the snow melts, dense, round spike-shaped inflorescences appear from small, inconspicuous yellowish-whitish baskets above the ground. Then in May, powerful (up to 60 cm in diameter) rounded leaves develop on long (70 - 150 cm) petioles, which die off with the first autumn frosts. In GBS since 1953 (from Sakhalin), blooms in the first decade of April. During dry periods, the leaves wither and the plants are inferior in size to natural specimens. It grows rapidly, conquering the surrounding space. Varieties: Variegatus- yellowish spots of irregular shape on large leaves; Purpureus- with reddish leaves. The flowers are used to prepare a medicine that improves digestion and expectoration. A decoction of the roots - antipyretic and anthelmintic. Young petioles and inflorescences are eaten (Sugawara, 1937). The stem contains a significant amount of alkaloids (Chernyaeva, Zhidko, 1971), and is used as a silage plant. In the Dictionary of Gardening (1956) it is recommended for decorating uneven empty wet places. An interesting plant for planting in curtains in parks in well-drained, regularly moistened places with fertile soil.

Butterbur is smooth, or Nardosmia is smooth - Petasites radiatus (J.F. Gmel.) Toman= Petasites laevigatus (Willd.) Reichenb. = Nardosmia laevigata. (Willd.) DC. Arctic and Central Europe, Middle and South. Ural, Siberia. On the banks of rivers, on pebbles, on shallows and in water. Rhizome creeping, long and thick, 4-10 mm thick. Basal leaves are large, triangular-reniform, shortly pointed, broadly toothed, 5-15 cm long. and 10-25 cm wide, completely naked. Stem 15-60 cm tall, still elongating at fruits, smooth or cobweb-fluffy in the upper part, with scaly, rather large (3-8 cm long) ovate-lanceolate leaves covering the stem with their base. Baskets 7-15 in dense corymbose inflorescence; barren - with numerous male flowers in the center and a number of marginal female flowers; fruiting baskets - with only a small (1-5) number of male flowers in the center. Photograph by Kirill Tkachenko

Butterbur rocky - Petasites rubellus (J.F. Gmel.)Toman. = Tussilago rubella J.F. gmel.= Nardosmia saxatilis Turkish. = Petasites saxatilis (Turcz.) Kom. Siberia, Far East, North. Mongolia, North-East. China. In the forest and alpine zones, along riverine forests, pebbles, on stony wet slopes, screes, sands. Rhizome creeping, thin, cord-like, 1-2 mm thick. Basal leaves are medium-sized, 1-4 cm long. and 1.5-6 cm wide., kidney-shaped, notched-acute-toothed, paler below, on both sides the leaves and petioles are sparsely covered with short thick, almost scaly hairs. Stem 5-15 cm tall, with fruits elongating up to 50 cm, ragged-soft-fluffy, with scaly, somewhat encircling the stem, ovate-lanceolate, entire leaves 1-2 cm long. Baskets 8-9 mm long. and 4-5 mm wide. 5-10 pcs. in shields. Barren baskets contain only one male flowers. Photo Ovchinnikov Yury

Butterbur false - Petasites spurius (Retz.)Reichenb. Europe, Siberia, Central Asia. On the sandy banks of rivers and lakes, it sometimes forms continuous thickets. Rhizome long, creeping, 5-10 mm thick. with fibrous roots at the nodes. Stem 15-50 cm high. slightly ragged-fluffy, covered with rather large (9-16 cm long and 2-3 cm wide), ovate-lanceolate, in the upper part lanceolate-linear, stem-embracing scaly leaves. Real leaves are only basal and develop later - on long petioles 1.5-2 times longer than a very large plate (10-28 cm long and 10-45 cm wide) - heart-shaped-triangular, unevenly serrated at the edges. On the underside they are white-felt, on the upper side they are green, almost naked or with a rare ragged down. Baskets numerous, 5-8 mm long. and 7-10 mm wide., with larger fruits, in a corymbose or racemose-paniculate inflorescence. Bracts lanceolate-linear or linear, long-pointed. Male baskets with a small number of marginal female flowers and numerous male tubular sterile flowers. The corolla of male flowers is yellowish, with a 5-toothed, almost half-incised limb. Their pistils have an underdeveloped ovary and a column thicker than that of female flowers. The stigma is bilobed. In female baskets, marginal fertile flowers are numerous, white, filiform-tubular, obliquely cut, with 4-5 unequal teeth. The middle flowers, including several male ones, with an underdeveloped ovary. Achenes are cylindrical, slightly ribbed, up to 2 mm long. Flyers are silvery. The hairs are multi-row on the stem with several short cilia. Photo Suslova Elena

Siberian butterbur - Petasites sibiricus (J.F. Gmel) Dingwall = Tussilago sibirica J.F. gmel= Nardosmia gmelinii Turkish. ex DC. = Endocellion sibiricum (J.F. Gmel) Toman. = P. gmelinii (Turcz. ex DC.) Polun. Siberia, Chukotka, Anadyr, Far East, North. Mongolia. Rubble tundra in mountainous regions and on plains, on wet slopes, talus, marshy tundra and stream banks. Rhizome thin, cord-like, creeping, 1-3 mm thick. Basal leaves on petioles equal or 1.5-2 times shorter than the blades, oblong, oblong-ovate or ovate, shortly pointed or obtuse at the apex, cuneate or almost rhombic at the base, slightly notched-toothed along the edges, green and glabrous above, white below - felt. Stem 10-25 cm tall, with fruits up to 50 cm, straight. Baskets single or in number 2-3, 1-2 cm in diameter. In female baskets, fertile flowers are numerous, with a corolla 6-7 mm long. Two or three extreme rows of them with a long 3-3.5 mm long. tongue fold. The flowers in the center of the basket are tubular. Male flowers are among several in the central part of the basket. In male baskets, only marginal flowers are female, the rest are barren male. Photo by Vyacheslav Petukhin from the site "Nature of Baikal"

Butterbur cold - Petasites frigidus (L.) Fris. = Tussilago frigida L. = Nardosmia frigida (L.) Hook. Eurasia, Sev. Eurasia. In forests along hollows, in peat and sedge bogs, in high mountains along the banks of streams, in moss and sedge tundras. Rhizome creeping, long and thick, 4-10 mm thick. Basal leaves are triangular-heart-shaped, pointed, 3-15 cm long. and almost as wide., along the edges deeply notched-toothed, almost lobed; from above slightly cobweb-fluffy or almost naked, from below grayish-felt. Stem 10-40 cm high. (with fruits up to 70 cm) cobweb-fluffy. Stem leaves scaly, ovate-lanceolate 2-13(20) cm long. at the end with a germinal plate. Basket 10-13 mm long. and 5-6 mm wide. in a dense almost corymbose inflorescence, with fruits elongating into a brush. Male baskets with one row of marginal reed flowers, with a limb 4-6 mm long. In female baskets, the limb of the corolla is very short, in marginal flowers 1-1.5 mm long. Photograph by Kirill Tkachenko

Butterbur fragrant(R. fragrans) The species is so named due to the peculiar smell, similar to the smell of vanilla. Flowers pink and white. From the Mediterranean, 30 cm tall. Butterbur white(R. albus) It grows along the banks of rivers in Europe and the Caucasus. Leaves up to 80 cm in diameter, entire. Very similar to b. hybrid, but the peduncles are pure green and the flowers are greenish white. Petasites saxatilis Photo Ovchinnikov Yury Butterbur hybrid(P. hybridus) Our common plant, which can often be found on the banks of rivers and along the bottom of ravines. The flower-bearing stem and leaves densely covering it are greenish-beet-colored. The inflorescence is dense at first, like an ear, then it stretches into a long brush. The flowers are dirty pink. The leaves are rounded heart-shaped on a grayish lining up to 70 cm tall. Butterbur fingered(R. palmatus) Grows in Primorye, Sakhalin and the Kuriles. Leaves up to 60 cm in diameter, petioles up to 100 cm. Larger in nature. The leaf blade is palmately cut. The inflorescences are pale lilac or whitish, almost corymbose at the beginning of flowering. In GBS since 1953 (from Primorye), it grows well, but is inferior in size to natural specimens. In nature, there are hybrids between P. amplus and P. palmatus. Butterbur strange(R. paradoxus) Grows along rivers and streams in the Alps and the Pyrenees. Leaves up to 80 cm in diameter, petioles up to 100 cm, purple at the beginning of growth. The leaf plate is whole. Inflorescences are pink. Butterbur not real(P. spurius, syn. Tussilago spuria) Fairly common, especially on sandy river banks. Flowering stems and baskets are light yellowish-green, corymbose inflorescence. Leaves up to 50 cm tall, plates on a white lining, triangular, with a pair of large lobes at the base.

Location: grows rapidly in moist, shady areas, forming a thicket. With sufficient moisture, they grow well in the sun. Winter-hardy without shelter. They are planted directly on the shore, surrounded by a restrictive strip of plastic or in solid containers. Butterburs are white, hybrid, palm-shaped, wide successfully endure strong shading.

Petasites hybridus	Petasites hybridus
Photos by Safronova Larisa

The soil: the plant is not demanding on soils, but prefers dense clayey, well-moistened rich soils. On poor soils, they lose their decorative effect. In good fertile soil, they grow very quickly and reach large sizes.

Petasites albus
Photo Kravchenko Kirill

Care: plants are aggressive and difficult to eradicate, large species are especially malicious. They need constant supervision. Cut off faded inflorescences that spread flying seeds.

Butterbur leaves are very fond of slugs that eat holes and this greatly reduce the decorative effect. Therefore, starting from the moment the leaves grow back, it is necessary to provide a set of protective measures against these pests (scatter granulated superphosphate or the Meta chemical preparation around the plants).

Reproduction: segments of rhizomes (transplantation in August-September is carried out immediately in place). During spring transplantation, individuals grow worse and their fox-leaves remain smaller throughout the year.

When sowing seeds bloom for 3-4 years. There are no specifics for germinating seeds and raising seedlings. It can be propagated by spring cuttings with leaf buds taken with a piece of rhizome.

Usage: the leaves form a very showy canopy. Good in group plantings under trees. Butterbur requires fairly large areas, since the small curtain of this plant does not look very picturesque, and besides, it will still begin to aggressively spread to the sides, crowding out other plants. But butterbur is ideal for decorating fences, walls of buildings and outbuildings. The curtain of this plant is appropriate near a pond or river, as well as under a canopy of trees. Butterbur is most suitable for landscaping the coastal zone of large reservoirs - ponds, rivers, lakes - decorated in a natural style. Curtains of this plant look most decorative against the background of trees and large bushes. Next to it, plantings of such large-sized plants as elecampane, buzulyshk, various types of rhubarb, cow parsnip, comfrey and others will be appropriate.

Petasites palmatus	Petasites palmatus
Photos by Anna Petrovicheva