Hardy biennial that grows to five feet tall. Lush, enormous leaves are followed by flower stalks with spiky, purple flowers followed by bristly, spherical seed heads about 1/2" in diameter.

Live burdock plant in a 3-4 inch pot. Plant sizes vary.

The hardy burdock plant or Arctium lappa has a surprising number of culinary and medicinal uses. It’s a member of the Asteraceae or daisy family that you may have heard called gobo or gobo root, greater burdock, lappa, snake’s rhubarb, woodland burdock, or edible burdock.

Frequently added to Asian cuisine, burdock roots are pleasantly crunchy and sweet and great for cooked dishes and teas. The young leaves make lovely additions to salads and cooked dishes, and the shoots are also edible and have an artichoke-like flavor.

In traditional herbal medicine, people use burdock root to make teas and tinctures. Herbalists believe burdock is a liver support plant and use it internally to aid the liver and improve digestion. Herbalists also use it externally, creating burdock salve to help soothe eczema, rashes, and acne.

Burdock plants can grow to 5 feet tall and feature enormous leaves and tall flower stalks with spiky purple flowers, followed by bristly, spherical seed heads about 1/2 inch in diameter.

How to Grow Burdock Plants

Burdock plants will thrive in nearly any soil type. However, sandy soil may be best if your goal is to harvest the roots. Burdock roots are easy to break and challenging to harvest in hard-packed clay soils. Burdock plants can be grown in sunny areas or partial shade, such as around trees.

Water your newly planted burdock regularly for the first four weeks. After this period, burdock is quite hardy and should never need additional watering. It will self-sow readily, and allowing it to do so can provide you with a steady supply. Note that once established, it can be difficult to eradicate.

• Hardy Biennial

• USDA Hardiness Zone: 2-11

• Light: Full Sun-Partial Shade

• Soil: Well-Drained, Various Types

• Soil pH: 6.6-7.5

• Mature Size: 5 Feet Tall

• Medicinal

• Culinary