Burdock
| Botanical Name | Arctium minus |
| Common Name | Burdock |
| Family | Asteraceae - Aster |
| Description | The first year’s growth of this biennial plant is a rosette of large, oval, thick and wrinkled leaves. The leaves are dark green above and lighter below with rather wavy margins. In the second year a large thickly-leaved, stout stalk appears in the center forming many alternate branches. The whole plant is rough textured, almost sandpapery. It has a stout tap root. In some states it’s considered an invasive weed, especially on farms and ranches. |
| Mature Size | 4’ – 5’ usually. Can be taller. |
| Bloom | July – September flowers like small thistle heads, about ¾” wide, appear. Numerous purple or pink flower heads grow in clusters. These heads have outer bracts that have hooks turning inward. The flower dries to a bur. |
| Interesting Facts | This native of Europe has burs that can cause local irritation of the skin, nose, eye, mouth and ears and possibly cause intestinal hairballs. Poultry may get burs lodged in the esophagus. But most animals avoid ingesting these plants. Burs catch in the hair of animals or the clothing of people and are carried in from outlying areas. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses | Burdock is cultivated in Europe and Japan as a food plant. In Japan it has been used in preparing sukiyaki. Young leaves and shoots can be cooked as a potherb like spinach. Young roots are roasted and ground to be used as a tea or coffee substitute. Burdock has been used as a blood purifier and to treat psoriasis, hives, eczema, acne and dogs’ hot spots. George Mestral, a Swiss inventor, developed Velcro after examining the hook-and-loop system of Burdock. |
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Photos for SFBG by Janice Tucker
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