Plant Finder

Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide

Description:

An imposingly coarse spreading plant with enormous leaves that give it an almost prehistoric appeal; an interesting addition to the bog or moist shade garden.

Ornamental Features

Giant Japanese Butterbur's attractive enormous round leaves remain green in color with curious silver undersides throughout the season on a plant with a towering habit of growth. It features bold spikes of creamy white flowers rising above the foliage in early spring before the leaves.

Landscape Attributes

Giant Japanese Butterbur is a dense herbaceous perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Invasive

Giant Japanese Butterbur is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Mass Planting
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Giant Japanese Butterbur will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 4 feet apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.