Plant Details

Arctium minus

Lesser Burdock

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Common names

41 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Common Burdock[1]
  • Lesser Burdock[1]
  • llepassa[1]
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Gewone klit[1]
  • Grote klis
  • Kleine klit[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Middelste klit[1]
French
  • Bardane à petites têtes[1]
  • Bardane à petits capitules[1]
  • Petite bardane[1]
Arabic
  • أرقطيون صغير[1]
Basque
  • Lapa belar txikia[1]
Catalan
  • repalassa[1]
  • repalassa menor[1]
  • repalassa petita[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • lopuch menší[1]
  • lopuch pýřitý[1]
Danish
  • Liden burre[1]
Estonian
  • väike takjas[1]
Finnish
  • pikkutakiainen[1]
Galician
  • Herba dos amores[1]
German
  • Gewöhnliche Kleine Klette[1]
  • Kleine Klette[1]
Hungarian
  • kis bojtorján[1]
Italian
  • Bardana minore[1]
Lithuanian
  • Mažoji varnalėša[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Gichi Masan (Wi’sûgibûg’, Gi’masan)[1]
Polish
  • Łopian mniejszy[1]
Russian
  • Лопух малый[1]
Slovak
  • lopúch menší[1]
Slovenian
  • mali repinec[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • liten kardborre[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Лопух малий[1]
Upriver Halkomelem
Welsh
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 minus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • lesser burdock — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Common Burdock — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Petite bardane — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Bardane à petites têtes — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Bardane à petits capitules — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Kleine Klette — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • lopuch menší — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • lopuch pýřitý — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Liden burre — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Лопух малый — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • småborre — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Bardana minore — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • liten kardborre — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • pikkutakiainen — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Mažoji varnalėša — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Łopian mniejszy — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Gichi Masan (Wi’sûgibûg’, Gi’masan) — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • 小牛蒡 — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • 小牛蒡 — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • väike takjas — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • lampazo — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • repalassa — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • repalassa petita — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • repalassa menor — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • llepassa — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Gewone klit — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Лопух малий — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Herba dos amores — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • أرقطيون صغير — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • lopúch menší — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • kis bojtorján — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Cacamwci — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Middelste klit — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Kleine klit — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Gewöhnliche Kleine Klette — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • mali repinec — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Lapa belar txikia — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • sexum — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Löşgek — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.
  • Löşlek — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 59570; Arctium minus.

General information

Scientific name: Arctium minus
Accepted name (Kew): Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. 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: Lesser Burdock
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: - m
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, Coffee, Root, Stem, Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Bee forage, Paper

Description

Roots can be eaten both raw and cooked, and the best roots come from young plants. They are usually peeled and cut into pieces. Roasted roots can serve as a coffee substitute. The young leaves and leaf stems can be eaten both raw and cooked and are used as a potherb. It is best to remove the skin from the stalk. Young flower stems can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked, similar to asparagus. Seed sprouts are also edible, but further details are lacking.

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 1428544; name ID 2922436; Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 1798177, ID 5W3Q6: Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Arctium minus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • 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 .