Moeyo

Greater burdock is a big Eurasian that has spread as a weed in North America, best known for its hooked burs that cling to clothing and pet fur. Its long taproot is a popular vegetable in East Asia, where Japanese cooks call it gobo.

Appearance

Appearance
A much-branched plant 3–9 ft (1–3 m) tall, with stout but brittle stems that are green or reddish purple. The fleshy taproot can reach about 3 ft (1 m) long.
Growth form
Biennial or short-lived perennial.
Leaves
Lower leaves are heart-shaped, 10–30 in (25–80 cm) long, wavy-edged, and hairy underneath, on long solid leafstalks.
Flowers
Thistle-like heads of pinkish-purple to deep purple flowers, each head 1–1¾ in (2.5–4.5 cm) across, in loose, flat-topped clusters on long stalks.
Flowering time
July–September
Fruit
Flattened with short bristles, packed inside the bur.

Look-alikes

Common burdockArctium minus

Common burdock has smaller heads (usually 1 in or less) in compact clusters on short stalks, and its lower leafstalks are hollow. Greater burdock's lower leafstalks are solid.

Why they get mixed upBoth are weedy burdocks with similar leaves and burs.

Woolly burdockArctium tomentosum

Woolly burdock's flower heads are wrapped in dense, cobwebby hairs. Its heads are small like common burdock's but sit on long stalks.

Why they get mixed upIts long flower stalks resemble greater burdock's.

Telling the three burdocks apart
Flower headHead stalksLower leafstalkBracts
Greater burdockUsually over 1 in (2.5 cm)Long; loose flat-topped clustersSolidNot cobwebby
Common burdock1 in or lessShort; compact clustersHollowNot cobwebby
Woolly burdockSmallLongSolid or hollowDense cobwebby hairs

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Fields
  • Ditches and roadsides
  • Woodland edges
  • Railroads and waste ground
Range
Native to Europe and Asia. It has naturalized in North America, where it is considered an invasive weed of nitrogen-rich soils.
Preferred conditions
Dry to moist disturbed soil in full sun to part shade.
Flowering

Flowers Jul–Sep

Flowers Jul–Sep

Life cycle

Seed dispersal
The around each head end in tiny hooks. When dry, they catch on fur and clothing and carry the seeds far away.

Cautions

Cautions
The burs and loose bristles can irritate skin, eyes, and airways, and burs are a hazard for dogs and horses.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories
  • Peeled leaf stalks can be eaten raw or cooked and taste a bit like artichoke.
  • In Britain, burdock root traditionally flavors the soft drink dandelion and burdock.

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Greater Burdock (Arctium lappa) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo