Description
Rhizomatous perennial plant that grows to be 2–20 inches tall with huge basal leaves and a scaly, broken stem. The color of the scales is purple. Leaves: basal, heart-shaped (cordate), emerge after flowers, 3-7 inches wide, slightly serrated, erect, with a thin, deep sinus and whitish underside.
In early spring through June, solitary, dandelion-like flowers that range in height from 3 to 12 inches appear before the leaves.
Fruit and seeds attached to a pappus that resembles the fluffy white seed heads of common dandelions are brown nutlets.
Habitat
Indigenous to Europe. Discovered along roadsides, in disturbed regions, wet fields or pastures, and along stream banks. It is also found in low soils and arid areas.
Uses
To create medicine, the leaf, flower, and root are utilized. Asthma, cough, sore throat, swelling of the airways, and other diseases are treated with coltsfoot.
Plant Care
- Soil
The plant is recognized as an indicator plant for wet-dry, loamy to clayey raw soils, and it prefers extremely warm and dry environments. Once established in gardens, coltsfoot never goes away because it develops a vast root system with many offshoots.
- Water Needs
Although it should be irrigated often, coltsfoot prefers for the soil to dry out in between irrigations. To customize watering suggestions for your particular location, use our water calculator. Alternatively, download Greg to receive more detailed recommendations for every plant in your home.
- Sunlight Needs
Without enough sunlight, coltsfoot may not thrive and will drop leaves 🍃. To optimize its development potential, situate it no more than three feet away from a window. Choose your location to view how the location of your property is affected by the local weather at that time.
- Fertilizer
Plants utilize the abundance of nutrients found in most potting soils to generate new growth.
Your plant will probably have grown to the point where it needs a larger container by the time it has used up all of the nutrients in the soil.
Repot your Coltsfoot once a year, or after it doubles in size, to restore the nutrients to this plant.
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