Butterbur (Petasites) is a herbaceous perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. In botany, it can be referred to as "mother plant", "gum root", "royal root", "plague grass". This perennial covers a vast territory of Russia. Some plant species have long migrated outside the country and are grown by many gardeners as an ornamental crop in temperate and subarctic latitudes.
Butterbur has wide convex leaf blades covered with a fleecy bloom. The grass is suitable for decorating the garden or planted near water bodies. Possesses useful medicinal properties. Traditional medicine successfully uses certain types of mother liquor to combat various diseases. Butterbur is easy to care for, as the plant is considered unassuming and quickly adapts to outdoor cultivation.
Description of the plant
Butterbur looks like a herbaceous flowering herb that clings to the soil with a fibrous root close to the surface. In the wild, the height of erect stems reaches from 30 to 200 cm.The thick shoot is framed by large scaly leaves. The top of the trunk is shown above the ground in early spring, when the first snow melts. At the top of the stem, a lush white-green, yellow, purple scutellum or panicle is formed from tubular corollas tightly planted next to each other. The plant blooms in April. When the flowering period is over, the stem continues to grow in length.
Massive, heart-shaped leaves with solid or serrated edges are expected to appear at the end of May. Leaves stick out from the ground on long legs. One side of the plate is usually densely pubescent, while the other is smooth to the touch. However, there are species in which both sides are bristly. The plates can grow about 1.5 m wide, and the petiole up to 5-6 cm.
The pollinated stem gives life to the crested seed pods, which ripen in early June. When the capsule cracks, seeds spill out of it. The wind blows the plague grass in different directions.
Types and varieties of butterbur with a photo
In the botanical literature, 20 species of butterbur are described. The most popular are:
Butterbur (Petasites officinalis)
The stems, covered with red scales, reach a height of about 60 cm. The top of the stem ends in a gray-pink racemose inflorescence consisting of tubular corollas. The bright green leaves in the shape of a heart appear with the beginning of summer. Butterbur medicinal bushes give off a pungent, repulsive odor. The plates have an additional layer of soft villi. The width of the leaves is 65 cm.
Hybrid butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
The height of this exotic ranges from 30 to 70 cm. Strong shoots protect the scales. The color of the stems is a pale burgundy shade. The tubular flowers are collected in red baskets, which are lined up in groups in a long spikelet.The leaves are rounded, kidney-shaped, fleecy. The size of one plate is about 60-70 cm. The petioles are thick and straight. Often the length of leaf shoots reaches more than a meter.
Butterbur false (Petasites spurius)
This species is characterized by stable shoots green with a pink tint, crowned with flowering baskets of white or yellow buds. The dark green foliage is as large as other forms of the plant. The edges are serrated, the surface of the plates is streaked with veins. The width of the leaf sometimes reaches 80 cm. The length of the petioles is almost one meter. From the inside, the leaves are framed by a thick pile.
Growing butterbur
Butterbur is grown using seeds or root cuttings. Sowing in open ground is done in spring or before winter. Some gardeners grow seedlings in boxes first. Sand with peat is used as a substrate. The sown material is watered and covered with foil. The boxes must be taken out to fresh air every day and sprayed. After a couple of weeks, the seedlings begin to hatch. They start picking into other pots after the formation of two healthy leaves. When the seedlings finally get stronger and grow up, the young shoots are transplanted to the site. Seedlings bloom only after three or four years.
Butterbur can also be grown by root cut without any problems. The events are recommended to take place in September. It is not always possible to carry out the procedure in the spring. The root of the plant is cut off with a length of 5 to 7 cm, immersed in the soil and thoroughly moistened. Until a cold snap sets in, the root will grow and bud. With the arrival of spring, young petioles will begin to break through.
Planting and caring for butterbur
Before planting seedlings or butterbur seeds in the garden, you should carefully select the site. The plant prefers a more moist substrate, therefore it develops confidently near open water bodies. The location of the grass should be in semi-shaded corners of the garden. At noon, the sun's rays can harm perennial leaves.
The root quickly takes over the space around the planting site and grows rapidly in size. To limit the aggressively tuned perennial, plastic panels are installed at a distance of 60 cm from the rhizome.
A neutral or slightly acidic soil with a large amount of nutrients is suitable for the mother liquor. It can be either a light earth layer or heavy loam. Saplings develop equally well in different types of soils. Seedlings grow in mass gradually. The site is periodically weeded, preventing the weeds from oppressing young plants.
Caring for butterbur is simple, but it is important to follow certain rules. Frost resistance is one of the main advantages. Wintering in temperate climates takes place without additional shelter. The stems, like the foliage, die off completely. In the fall, dried vegetative parts are cut off at the root. Withered peduncles are also advised to be removed, otherwise the culture will be sown on its own.
The plant reacts well to moisture. Bushes appear larger and taller when grown in humid areas or placed near open bodies of water. Bushes need abundant watering. Drought and intense heat lead to wilting of greenery. At night, the perennial is restored and regains its shape.
The humus root does without additional fertilizing, but peat mulch will be useful for seedlings at first. In this case, the growth of the culture will become more active, and the flowering will last.
Butterbur is rarely affected by disease. Of the pests, slugs and caterpillars are dangerous, which are attracted by a damp, moist environment. Chemical insecticides help fight insects.
The healing properties of butterbur
Butterbur tissue contains organic acids, tannins, flavonoids and essential oils. Herbal decoctions have a diuretic, antispasmodic and expectorant effect.Medicinal infusions relieve nervous tension, fatigue, normalize blood pressure, which is especially important for people suffering from hypertension.
The juice of fresh leaves heals skin wounds, stops inflammation and bleeding, has an analgesic effect and fights infection. Butterbur leaves ointment is used for problem skin.
The group of people who are prohibited from taking the herb includes pregnant women, children and patients with hypertension. Broths taken internally reduce sugar levels.
The alkaloids found in the roots and petioles are toxic to humans. They can cause liver cancer and other organ diseases. That is why it is important to adhere to the dosage and consult a doctor before using butterbur.
Inflorescences and leaves of cold butterbur and Japanese butterbur are considered edible. They can be eaten both raw and boiled. The plant has similar flavor properties to celery and rhubarb. Japanese restaurant menus include a variety of mother liquor dishes and side dishes. Also, the grass is grown for forage purposes.
Butterbur in landscape design
Large original perennial leaves are easy to spot in the forest and on the site. This exotic neighborhood will surely be appreciated by the owners of the garden and guests. The only condition for successful cultivation of a culture is the choice of a place and the prevention of self-seeding.
Blooming butterbur thickets will successfully hide unattractive old buildings, disguise fences and decorate the coastal zone. The plant does not allow the weeds to approach, so weeding the flower beds with the royal root is not needed.
It is recommended to place hogweed, comfrey or rhubarb, deciduous shrubs and tall trees near the cultural plantings of the mother plant.
