ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE
Selection of perennials
Petasites Mill.
Sweet coltsfoot, butterbur |
Asteraceae (Compositae) |
About 20 species in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
15 species in the FSU.
P. amplus Kitam.
Far East (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands) and northern Japan. Introduced
in Europe and North America. On slopes, in hills, along streams, on
gravelly soil and in pebbles.
Taproot thick and deep, plant also has many adventitious roots.
Plant 200-250 (-300) cm. Flowering stem 50 cm, 100 cm when fruiting.
Leaves long (150-200 cm) petiolate. Blades 150 cm diam., rounded
kidney-shape, dark green above, white woolly beneath. Flower heads
25-30, in compound corymb synflorescence. Flowers white. V - starts
just after snow melting. Fl - April before leaves are developed.
Fr - June. Seeds germinate immediately. Propagation by seed and
division. Does well under decidous trees and also in wet places.
For group planting and for the wild garden. Z 4. New.
P. tatewakianus Kitam.
Far East (coastal area along the Sea of Okhotsk, Ussuriyskiy Region,
Sakhalin), northeastern China and Korea. Along streams on deposited
sand, gravelly soil, in the forests.
Plant 150-200 cm. Rhizome creeping, tuber-like, thickened (2-3 cm
across). Flowering stem 15-30 cm, 30-90 when fruiting. Basal leaves
very large. Rounded blade palmate-lobate, or palmatisected, 60-70 cm
diam., with petiole up to 50-70 (-100) cm long. Flower heads numerous
in compound corymbose inflorescences. Flowers light violet. V - early
spring to late autumn. Fl - April-May before leaves are developed.
Fr - June. Seeds germinate immediately. Propagation by seed and
division. Prefers a semi-shaded place, also does well in sunny places.
For group planting and for the wild garden. Z 4. New.
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