Tussilago farfara
Tussilago farfara
Common names: Tussilago farfara, Tussilago farfara
Photo: Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Tussilago farfara, commonly known as coltsfoot, is one of the earliest spring bloomers in the garden. It displays bright yellow flower heads on scaly stems as early as February, long before the characteristic horseshoe-shaped leaves appear. A hardy pioneer plant, it readily colonises bare, compacted soils along roadsides or on raw ground, loosening them with its deep-reaching root system. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be hepatotoxic when ingested internally; caution is advised for children and pets that may chew the leaves. Traditionally it was valued for external use and folk medicine, but today it is regarded as a plant that should be handled with care due to its alkaloid content.
Care instructions
Coltsfoot requires little care in the garden. It prefers loamy, calcareous, and relatively dry soils in sunny to partially shaded positions. Water young plants only when prolonged drought occurs, as the deep root system usually supplies sufficient moisture. Because coltsfoot can spread aggressively via rhizomes, a root barrier or a designated area, such as the edge of a wild vegetable plot in Zone 3, can be useful. Remove spent stems after flowering in April and May to prevent uncontrolled spread. When handling the leaves, wear gloves, as some people may be sensitive to the plant sap.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, lean, lime-loving
Feeding
Light feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
carrot family (Apiaceae)
Calendula and Tagetes next to carrots keep the carrot fly away with their scent.
For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Sunflowers release substances into the soil that inhibit potato tuber growth, and they also compete for water and nutrients.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 9 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop-rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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