These Burdock Seeds (50), are organically Grown in Western PA, non-GMO-Limited Special Price for Fall Planting.
Greater burdock is a biennial plant, rather tall, reaching as much as 3 metres (10 feet). It has large, alternating, wavy-edged cordiform leaves that have a long petiole and are pubescent on the underside. Biennial native to temperate Europe and Asia. Burdock seeds sown in the spring or summer will produce diggable roots by late summer that can be harvested through the winter. The root has similar sweetness to the carrot, with an earthy flavor. Dried burdock roots (Bardanae radix) are used in traditional medicine.

Burdock, or also called Great Burdock, is a robust biennial herb plant grown from herb seeds with long-stalked leaves. The Great Burdock herb is a nutritious vegetable and medicinal herb used as a remedy for measles, arthritis, tonsillitis, viruses like colds, throat pain, and as a diuretic. In modern times, Burdock is also used in oncology and to treat many other serious health problems. Great Burdock plant stalks are cooked like celery. The Burdock root is eaten raw or cooked like parsnips. Great Burdock herb seeds can be sprouted.

Burdock is a stimulating (as well as a nutritive) tonic and is often recommended as a cleansing herb. It is considered a blood purifier and is used for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin problems and for liver stagnation and difficulty with fat digestion. It is indicated for rheumatism, arthritis, gout, cystitis, and anorexia nervosa. Recent research has shown it to be antimutagenic, perhaps acting as a cancer protector. Antimicrobial and antitumor properties have also been reported.

Start Burdock seeds directly outdoors as soon in the spring as the soil can be prepared. Cover the Great Burdock seeds with light soil and lightly tamp down. Burdock plants grow along roadsides, in open fields, at the edges of woods, and anywhere ground has been disturbed just as most thistles would. Because it is a biennial, the first year Burdock only forms a cluster of large leaves. The large leaves grow from a carrot-like root that can penetrate over two feet into the ground. It is this Burdock root that is most often used in herbal medicine. After a year of growth, Burdock puts forth a branched stalk with smaller leaves and, in the late summer, purple-pink flowers. In autumn, these flowers are replaced by round brown burrs that persist into the winter. The herb seeds contained in these burrs are also used medicinally.



In Japan Arctium is known as Gobo and has been used as food for about 1,000 years after Buddhist monks brought the plant into the country. They used the root to cure such things as constipation and mercury poisoning and the leaves externally to heal rashes and burns. Today many Japanese as well as Europeans use Arctium as food and medicine. In Europe during the world wars Arctium was used as a treatment for wounds. Pilgrims brought A. lappa over to North America and native Americans quickly added the plant to their herbal repertories for its blood purifying abilities, as a kidney tonic and also to increase concentration. It has also been historically used to treat hair loss. In Western herbalism, burdock is considered an important alterative herb. Is was used as a detoxifying agent to "cleanse" the blood, removing toxins from the body. It was used both internally and externally  or many conditions of the skin, such as acne, boils, abscesses, and eczema.

Zones 3 - 7

Direct sowing seeds in autumn brings the most success. As long as you experience temperatures of 40 degrees F or below for a good part of the winter. 

Start Burdock from seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before the last predicted frost. Sow the seeds in normal potting soil, and put the plant in a warm, sunny location. In about 14 to 21 days, the seeds will begin to germinate.

Life Cycle:  Biennial
Height:  4-6 ft
Max Width:  3 ft
USDA Zone:  3-10
Light:  Full Sun / Partial Sun
Harvest:  90-120 days

*  Common Names = Burdock / Gobo / Greater Burdock / Cockle Button / Thorny Burr
*  Extremely hardy and low maintenance - grows anywhere from meadows to woods
*  Attracts bees and butterflies
*  Self-seeds freely; dead-head flowers to avoid accidental plants
*  Leaves can be used as a vegetable in salads
*  Roots are used in herbal remedies for digestion, flu symptoms, and cardio health
*  Rich in B-Vitamins, Iron , Zinc, Potassium, Manganese, Vitamin C and Magnesium
*  Topical application for scalp/hair treatment, acne, eczema and psoriasis
*  Fast-growing = harvest roots after 90 days before plant gets very difficult to dig up