Plant Details

Petasites japonicus

Giant butterbur, Fuki, Sweet coltsfoot

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Petasites japonicus.

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Common names

23 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Fuki
  • Giant butterbur[1]
  • Japanese Butterbur[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Sweet coltsfoot
Other languages (17)
Dutch
  • Japans hoefblad[1]
French
  • Pétasite du Japon[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • devětsil japonský[1]
Danish
  • Japansk hestehov[1]
Finnish
  • idänruttojuuri[1]
Hungarian
  • Vörös keserűlapu[1]
Japanese
Japanese (romanized)
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Japoninis šaukštis[1]
Norwegian
  • japanpestrot[1]
Polish
  • lepiężnik japoński[1]
Russian
  • Белокопытник широкий[1]
Slovak
  • deväťsil japonský[1]
Swedish
  • Bitterskråp[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] Petasites japonicus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Giant Butterbur — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • フキ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Fuki — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Pétasite du Japon — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • devětsil japonský — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Bitterskråp — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Japansk hestehov — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • japanpestrot — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Белокопытник широкий — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • idänruttojuuri — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Japoninis šaukštis — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • 蜂斗菜 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • 머위 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Japans hoefblad — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Japanese Butterbur — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • Vörös keserűlapu — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • 蜂斗菜 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • 蕗 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • 苳 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • lepiężnik japoński — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.
  • deväťsil japonský — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 129038; Petasites japonicus.

General information

Scientific name: Petasites japonicus
Accepted name (Kew): Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Giant butterbur, Fuki, Sweet coltsfoot
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.60 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist, Wet
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Shade, Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Stem
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Ground cover

Description

Petiole can be cooked and eaten like rhubarb. The stems can grow up to 1.2 meters long and are suitable for various cooking methods, such as boiling, pickling for winter soups, and preserving with miso. Another option is to boil the stems, then plunge them in cold water, peel them, and sauté for a wonderfully fragrant taste. Flower buds can be boiled or used as a seasoning. With a slightly bitter yet pleasant flavor, they are popular in Japan. The flower buds can be eaten while still green, with miso or cooked in soy sauce. The young flowering stems can also be boiled and eaten.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/03
Harvest ends: 30/04

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 557750; name ID 3134261; Petasites Mill.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 469112; name ID 3076203; Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Petasites japonicus

    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 889223, ID 4FCZN: Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. (accepted).

    Source checked on .