Garden Photo of the Day

I've taken a trip in a time machine...

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

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Photo: Michelle Gervais

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...back to the days of the dinosaurs. That's what it feels like when I see the stand of monster petasites leaves along the pond at Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, New York! These things are humongous. This particular variety is the biggest of the big (Petasites japonicus var. giganteus, USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9), growing up to 4 feet tall with leaves up to 3 feet in diameter. Petasites, also known as fuki or butterbur, loves deep, rich, permanently moist soil in partial to full shade, making it perfect for swampy areas. But look out - this plant can get a little overzealous and start running around rampantly! The species isn't listed as invasive in our usual references, but I'll bet some of you have experience with it. Do you love it or curse it?

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Comments (10)

soilgoil writes: I have a "dinosaur bed" in a shady area of the garden. It's dominated by a regal Gunnera, which dwarfs the Petasites...the petasites are rather like handmaidens to the queen. Frilly Lady's Mantle hide the Petasites' stems. I do have to keep the Petasites under control, as they can be aggressive in the Pacific Northwest climate. They also attract slugs and snails, and despite use of "safe" bait, the big, round leaves are usually peppered with holes. Posted: 12:45 pm on July 5th

arboretum writes: michelle, another tremendously composed shot!(It would be fun , for showing the scale, to have the little bit of someone's head peaking up from behind!) My first major petasites impression was at Blithewold in R.I., where they carpet a large woodland area. so cool! I have also seen an impressive planting of them adjacent to a huge magnificent sweep of primula in the bog garden area of Lois Hartley's beautiful garden in Scituate R.I.
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/ Posted: 12:43 pm on July 5th

sheilaschultz writes: I've never seen these before... WOW! Thanks for the introduction. Posted: 10:40 am on July 5th

MiMi_ writes: More and more public gardens are adding this plant as it draws so much attention. In England, I saw it at Cholmondeley Gardens and Tatton Hall. Posted: 9:31 am on July 5th

debsilber writes: We planted petasites a few years ago and are still loving it for the tropical (Jurassic) feel it gives our Connecticut backyard and because its lush growth hides all manner of eyesores. That said, "overzealous" is a good descriptor: once established, it dominates the garden like a T Rex. We've started dividing ours and using the offspring to soften areas of the yard that needed a little lushness. I'm thinking it would make a great backbone plant in a perennial pot... Posted: 9:01 am on July 5th

sweetrebecca writes: Thanks for telling me (yet again) the name of this plant. One of the coolest plants I've seen in a long, long time! Posted: 9:00 am on July 5th

ridgetop01 writes: I love it, my husband hates it! It sits along the top edge of a heavily shaded ravine, on the side of the yard, and it constantly tries to spread into the yard, but mowing keeps it down there - a good thing, as it is very invasive here in zone 5 central NY state. It is wonderful planted with tall grasses for contrast, and the flowers are incredible - strange, bulbous organs rising from the ground in early spring, topped with what look like sucker feet (the flowers) which later turn into dandelion fluffs. Posted: 8:06 am on July 5th

Deanneart writes: Wonderful! Love this display at Stonecrop. We were there a couple years ago and it's a marvelous place. Thanks for sharing Posted: 6:04 am on July 5th

mariettabrown writes: We have this in Zone 10. We call it elephant ears. I love it. Posted: 5:53 am on July 5th

rosebud2 writes: I grow Petasites at the edge of a water Garden after having seen it massed in the gardens of Francis Cabot, Les Quatre Vents in La Malbaie, Quebec. He is the author of " The greater Perfection" available at Amazon and a marvellous read for any gardener.
Petasites grow rapidly and are always an attention getter. An agressive plant it can easily be kept under control by pulling up errant leaves. Posted: 5:09 am on July 5th

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