Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Origin
China, Japan, Korea
  
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not available
  
Habitat
Dappled Shade, meadows, Shady Edge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
  
marshes, meadows, Slopes, Upland savannas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-4
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
White, Purple, Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Lance shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Wet Site
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water once every two or three weeks
  
Do Not over Water, Medium
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove the old foliage
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Use a fertilizer ratio of 16-4-8
  
Balanced garden plant fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Gray mold, Verticillium Wilt
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Dizziness, Nausea
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Poultice
  
Anodyne, Antibacterial, Astringent, Diarrhea, Diuretic
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Stem
  
Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Used as umbrellas by Japanese children, Used as walking sticks, Used like rhubarb
  
Repellent, Used as a general tonic
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
PETASITES japonicus
  
LIATRIS spicata
  
Common Name
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur
  
Gayfeather, dense blazing star, prairie gay feather
  
In Hindi
Giant Butterbur
  
Gayfeather
  
In German
Riesen Pestwurz
  
Gayfeather
  
In French
géant Butterbur
  
Gayfeather
  
In Spanish
gigante petasita
  
Gayfeather
  
In Greek
Giant Butterbur
  
Gayfeather
  
In Portuguese
Carrapicho gigante
  
Gayfeather
  
In Polish
Giant Lepiężnik
  
Gayfeather
  
In Latin
Giant Butterbur
  
Gayfeather
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Petasites
  
Liatris
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Senecioneae
  
Eupatorieae
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Asteroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available