Arctium lappa

RHS Plant Profile

greater burdock

RHS

Other common names

beggar's buttons, bur, burdock, burr, clite, clod bur, clot bur, cockle bur, cockle button, cuckle, cuckold, gobo, great bur, great burdock, hardane, hardock, harlock, hurr bur, kiss-me-quick, love leaves, stick-button, cyngaf mawr

Synonyms

Lappa major

Annual Biennial Herbs - Culinary

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An erect, branching plant to 2m, with purplish flowerheads in clusters on the leafy main branches, and dull green leaves. Characteristic brown seedheads

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Arctium are robust, tap-rooted biennials with large downy leaves and solitary or clustered thistle-like flower-heads turning into burr-like fruiting heads
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Ideally grow in moist soil and full sun or partial shade. It will tolerate wide range of soils

Propagation

Propagate by seed; sow in situ in the autumn or early spring. Alternatively, sow in a tray and transplant before the tap-root develops. To improve germination pre- soak or scarify the seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free