Burdock
Arctium lappa
Botanical family: Asteraceae
A large biennial (Arctium lappa) with immense leaves and a fleshy taproot, the 'gobo' of the Japanese kitchen garden, with an artichoke flavour. Its hooked flower heads, which cling to clothes, inspired Velcro in the engineer George de Mestral.
Sun to partial shade
Deep, friable, cool and rich
Regular, the root plunges deep
Very hardy biennial
Overwinters in your zone
Role in permaculture
Its large taproot is reputed to loosen compacted soils, while its large leaves provide a fine mulching biomass. Nectar-bearing flowers in summer (an Asteraceae foraged by bees and bumblebees). A root vegetable that is both nourishing and a worker of the soil.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
A biennial: the root is lifted in the autumn of the first year, and on until the following spring before it turns fibrous; the flowering stems are cut in spring. Fresh, the root keeps only a short while, somewhere cool.
Available: October, November.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, « Réussir la culture de la bardane » (fermedesaintemarthe.com/en/blogs/comment-reussir-la-culture-de/reussir-la-culture-de-la-bardane)
- Société Nationale d'Horticulture de France (SNHF), fiche « Bardane » (snhf.org/fiche-plante/bardane/)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Identify the plant carefully: when digging up wild roots, confusion with deadly nightshade (belladonna) has caused poisonings. Sustained medicinal use should be left to professional advice, especially while on diabetes treatment (a possible effect on blood sugar).
Family behaviour: Asteraceae
In general, Asteraceae are a family rich in flowers appreciated by pollinators and beneficials (pot marigold, yarrow, chamomile). It is very scattered, from the mildest lettuce to the allelopathic sunflower.
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Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Common varieties
Before you forage
This plant is often gathered from the wild. Only pick what is abundant, never a protected species, and never uproot a whole plant (roots) without the landowner's permission. Rules vary by country and region, check locally.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers sun to partial shade exposure.
- • Ideal soil: deep, friable, cool and rich.