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Wildflowers of the Stuttgart Area

Arctium lappa

Family : ASTERACEAE
Common Name (UK) : Burdock
Common Name (DE) : Grosse Klette
Common Name (FR) : Grande Bardane
Habitat : waste ground and about old buildings, by roadsides and in fairly damp places
Remarks : "...the stalks, cut before the flower is open and stripped of their rind, form a delicate vegetable when boiled, similar in flavour to Asparagus, and also make a pleasant salad, eaten raw with oil and vinegar. Formerly they were sometimes candied with sugar, as Angelica is now. They are slightly laxative, but perfectly wholesome." from Botanical.com.
The young shoots can be eaten braised or used to make soup. The young leaves can be prepared like spinach. Roots of 2cm in diameter are the most tender and tasty. The roots are eaten raw (shredded) or cooked. They taste like artichokes but more earthy. Burdock is rich in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.
Introduced to the U.S.
First appearing : July
Abundance : Abundant

  • Photo Date : July 1, 2005
  • Location : Büsnau, Stuttgart.
    N48° 44.823' E9° 04.754'
  • Photo Date : July 1, 2005
  • Location : Büsnau, Stuttgart.
    N48° 44.823' E9° 04.754'