Burdock - Great

Burdock is fast growing and can easily adapt to various environments. This plant is very very very hardy as I have successfully grown it in Saskatoon where winters can reach below -40 Celsius. I planted them late in summer and they were very small but I didn’t care because the packet they came in had plenty of seeds so I could retry next year. I was actually really surprised this spring to notice that somehow they came back WAYYYY bigger. It also seemed that it grew more plants along side itself. But I guess I’m not exactly surprised because they are native to some areas here in Canada. Overall a good experience.

Burdock suddenly appeared in a few places on my 2 acres but I don't know where they came from, probably birds dropped seeds. They are growing in good places so I'm going to leave them. If you like elephant ears but live in zone 5 like me, these are very much like them. The humming birds will like them. We have an unusual number of hummers this year so good for them. They look cool, and shade out other undesirable weeds.

This plant is more of an invasive weed. The roots/plants have some medicinal qualities. I have never seen my honey bees more crazy for a plant. Great if you keep honey bees.

I planted this plant because a friend said they loved eating it when growing up. WORST THING I EVER PLANTED!! While it made a nice plant, it makes horrible seeds. They get in dogs fur, on my clothes, and hurt if you step on them. After five years still trying to get rid of it. Too many other good plants to grow this. ??

I bought burdock years ago and have had it ever since, even though I didn't have it here before. Once you let it go to seed the second year, it comes up everywhere. Now, I like that! It's not fussy about water, heat, or cold, in my zone 9 garden. If you pull up the roots young, you can just scrape off the skin with a knife and then add it chopped to stews, or make Japanese pickled or stir fry dishes (with the usual brown rice oil, rice vinegar or mirin, and soy sauce). The second year, the very tall stalks are supposed to taste like artichoke hearts. (Burdock is related to the artichoke.) You can technically eat the leaves, but they are rather bitter and fibrous. i suppose you can add it chopped to a stew. My goats and chickens enjoy the leaves. It could be a resilient forage plant for livestock. Burdock is nutritious and mineral rich. I love having it in my garden! Look up Wildman Steve Brill for more information.