Herb: Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot


Latin name: Petasites saggitatus


Family: Compositae



Medicinal use of Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot:

Antispasmodic, poultice, salve. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to itchy skin and also to worms that are eating the flesh.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
20 cm
(7 3/4 inch)

Flowering:
May to
June

Habitat of the herb:

Wet places.

Edible parts of Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot:

Young flower stalks, used before the flower buds appear, are boiled until tender and seasoned with salt. Young leaves - cooked. A felt-like texture. The ash of the plant is used as a salt substitute. The stems and leaves, whilst still green, are rolled up into balls, dried and then placed on top of a very small fire on a rock and burned. A very acceptable condiment for piäole.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe or in early spring. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division succeeds at almost any time of the year. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation of Arrowleaf Sweet Coltsfoot:

Wet places.

Known hazards of Petasites saggitatus:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.