Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Sedge or Rush
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Southern Europe, United Kingdom, Northern Africa
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Grassland, Humid climates, Riverbanks, Wet forest
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Divison, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Insects
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Asthma, Skin irritation
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Digestion problems, Fever
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Edging, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
ISOLEPIS cernua
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Variegatus'
  
Common Name
Low Bulrush
Slender Clubrush
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
फाइबर ऑप्टिक घास
  
variegated butterbur
  
In German
Lichtwellenleiter-Gras
  
bunte Pestwurz
  
In French
Fibre optique Herbe
  
pétasite panachée
  
In Spanish
Hierba de fibra óptica
  
butterbur abigarrado
  
In Greek
Οπτικών Ινών Grass
  
διαφοροποιημένα butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Fibra Óptica Relva
  
butterbur variegada
  
In Polish
Światłowody Trawa
  
barwny Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Fiber opticus Grass
  
varius butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Class
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Order
Poales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Cyperaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Isolepis
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Pooideae
  
Not Available