Woodland Burdock

Arctium lappa subsp. lappa

Native to:
Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hainan, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Laos, Lebanon-Syria, Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Arctium
Species:
Arctium lappa subsp. lappa
USDA Symbol:
ARVU2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Biennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
200 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
purple, pink

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Northern Burdock Borer (Papaipema arctivorens), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers nutrient-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily at cool temperatures (15-20°C). Light not required for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI