Plant Details

Arctium lappa

Great Burdock, Gobo

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Common names

48 names · 34 languages
EnglishYour language
  • European burdock[1]
  • Gobo
  • Great Burdock[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • greater burdock[1]
Other languages (33)
Dutch
  • Grote klit[1]
French
  • Grande Bardane[1]
Arabic
  • قرطب أكبر[1]
  • قرطب صالح للأكل[1]
  • قرطب كبير[1]
Belarusian
  • Лопух вялікі[1]
Catalan
  • bardana[1]
  • card d’eriçó[1]
  • repalassa[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • lopuch větší[1]
Danish
  • Glat burre[1]
Estonian
  • suur takjas[1]
Finnish
  • isotakiainen[1]
German
  • Große Klette[1]
Greek
  • Άρκτιο το Αποτοξινωτικό[1]
Hungarian
  • Közönséges bojtorján[1]
Italian
  • bardana maggiore[1]
  • Lappa bardana[1]
  • Lappola[1]
Japanese
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Didžioji varnalėša[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Gichi-Mazaan[1]
Polish
  • Łopian większy[1]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Лопух большой[1]
  • репей[1]
  • репейник[1]
Serbian
  • Велики чичак[1]
Slovak
  • lopúch väčší[1]
Slovenian
  • navadni repinec[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • stor kardborre[1]
Turkish
  • Dulavrat Otu[1]
Ukrainian
  • Лопух великий[1]
Upriver Halkomelem
Welsh
  • Cyngaf mawr[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Arctium lappa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • ゴボウ — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Лопух большой — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • репей — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • репейник — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • bardana maggiore — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Große Klette — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • greater burdock — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • gobou — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • great burdock — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • grande bardane — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • European burdock — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Grote Klit — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • lopuch větší — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Közönséges bojtorján — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • bardana — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • 牛蒡 — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Άρκτιο το Αποτοξινωτικό — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Glat burre — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • lampazo — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • storborre — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Lappola — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Lappa bardana — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • stor kardborre — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • isotakiainen — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Didžioji varnalėša — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Łopian większy — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Bardana-maior — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • قرطب كبير — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • قرطب صالح للأكل — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • قرطب أكبر — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Gichi-Mazaan — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • lopúch väčší — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • suur takjas — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • card d’eriçó — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • repalassa — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • bardana — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Велики чичак — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • 우엉 — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • 牛蒡 — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Brusture — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Лопух великий — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Лопух вялікі — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • navadni repinec — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • 恶实 — results[1].names[45]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Cyngaf mawr — results[1].names[46]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • sexum — results[1].names[47]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.
  • Dulavrat Otu — results[1].names[48]; taxon id 75501; Arctium lappa.

General information

Scientific name: Arctium lappa
Accepted name (Kew): Arctium lappa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Arctium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Great Burdock, Gobo
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.61–1.22 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Biennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Root, Stem, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Carrots can be eaten both raw and cooked. Young carrots have a mild flavor, while older carrots have a stronger taste. The ideal length for carrots is a maximum of 60 cm, as longer carrots may have a tough core. Carrots discolor quickly when exposed to air. They can also be dried and contain about 45% inulin, which can be converted into a sweetener for diabetics. The young leaves and stems can be eaten both raw and cooked. The leaves have a slimy texture, and the stems and branches can be used like asparagus or spinach, with the skin needing to be removed for the best flavor. The flower stem can be eaten raw in salads or cooked and incorporated into dishes. The pith of the flower stem has a mild flavor similar to asparagus. Germinated seeds of this plant can be used as bean sprouts like mung bean sprouts, soy sprouts, or tjapah.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 560674; name ID 3134433; Arctium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1422475; name ID 2900828; Arctium lappa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Arctium lappa

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1980678, ID 67S22: Arctium lappa L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Arctium lappa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .