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Smith, R.W.

Petasites frigidus

Petasites frigidus (L.) Fr.

Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot, Palmate Coltsfoot, Arctic Butterbur, Palmate Butterbur

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PEFR5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Palmate Coltsfoot is a member of the aster family (family Asteraceae) which includes herbs, sometimes shrubs or vines, rarely trees, with simple or compound, alternate or opposite leaves. Flowers small, but organized into larger heads resembling a single, radially symmetrical flower cupped by a ring of green bracts. In this large, worldwide family there are about 920 genera and 19,000 species. Cosmos, Sunflower, Zinnia, Dahlia, and many others are grown as ornamentals; Lettuce, Sunflowers, and Artichokes provide food. Safflower oil is obtained from this family. Ragweed pollen causes hay fever.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CT , ID , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NY , OR , VT , WA , WI
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT

Growing Conditions

Soil Moisture: Moist

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW	FACW	FACW		FACW	FAC		FACW	FACW	FACW

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Petasites frigidus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Petasites frigidus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Petasites frigidus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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