Petasites hybridus aka Pestilence Wort

Taxonomy

Petasites hybridus, also known as butterbur, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native to Europe and northern Asia. The plant produces pale pink flowers in early spring before the leaves appear, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. The leaves are large, round and on tall stems. Although traditionally used in medicine for various purposes, there are no approved medical uses for butterbur due to concerns about potential toxic effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It is sold as a dietary supplement. To get rid of weeds, they can be manually uprooted or cut close to the ground. Pestilence Wort is a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and moderate sunlight, and should be kept within 6 feet of a window.

Common names

Pestilence Wort, Butterbur

How to care for Pestilence Wort

Difficulty

With its straightforward care requirements, Pestilence Wort is a hassle-free plant that anyone can enjoy.

Water

Pestilence Wort should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Pestilence Wort prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

No verified data on the toxicity of this plant exists within Ploi's records. Should you, someone in your family, or your pet ingest plant material with an unknown toxicity level, it is recommended to seek medical advice.

Region of origin

Pestilence Wort’s native range is Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, north and west Asia.


More info:
Wikipedia