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.
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 2-10
Height: 60 inches
Bloom Season: Late spring to mid summer
Average Germ Time: 30-90 days
Light Required: Full sun to partial shade
Watering/soil: Keep moist until germination
Sowing Depth: ¼ inch, lightly cover
Seeds per Plant: 2-3
Plant Spacing: 23-48 inches
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.