Arrow-Leaved Coltsfoot
Family: Asteraceae
Native to: Eastern North America, Interior North America, Western North America
Hardy to zone: 2
Eco benefits: attracts pollinators, water filtration, erosion control, medicinal, edible parts
Natural habitat: swamps & bogs, floodplains
Shapes: prostrate
Height: up to 4ft
Unique attractions: leaves, flowers
Common uses: naturalized plantings, rain garden
Light: partial shade
Soil: tolerates wet feet, wet
Arrow-Leaved Coltsfoot is a spreading perennial herb, naturally found in ditches, swampy forests, and wet grasslands. Its native range stretches from Alaska, south to Oregon, and across North America in colder areas. Common uses include rain gardens, water filtration, and erosion control.
Tall flower heads appear very early spring, bearing white flowers sometimes with hints of pink, purple, or yellow. The flower stalks are somewhat isolated as they emerge. These quickly give way to tufts of fluffy seeds to disperse by early June. Leaves are large and arrow shaped, forming a pale white underside from soft fine hairs.
Coltsfoot has a long history of medicinal use. Native peoples used it as an edible or for chest and stomach conditions. Use with caution as the alkaloids can be damaging if used incorrectly.
There are a number of variations of this plant; var nivalis and var palmatus are generally found throughout BC and western North America whereas var. frigidus is found a cross the globe in very cold climates.
