Greater Burdock is a biennial plant in the daisy family that has purple flowers and large, ruffled, cordiform leaves. It is cultivated as a vegetable for its edible roots and immature stems. It has thistle-like fruits clusters. The fruit clusters have long bracts with recurved hooks. the burdock fruits cling to animal fur and are dispersed by animals. It grows 6-10 feet tall. Native to Europe and Asia. Hardy in zones 3-7.
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Growing Instructions for the greater Burdock.
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The germination of the seeds is erratic and is improved by cold stratification. The seeds have a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. 1. Put the seeds in a ziplock bag. 3. Put the bag in the refrigerator and leave it there for 4 weeks. 4. Sow the seeds 1/8 of an inch deep. 5. Water the seeds. The roots are large enough to be harvested in 90 days.