Common Burdock

Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District

Common Burdock (Lesser Burdock)
Arctium minus
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms mid-July - mid-October

The non-native (Eurasian) Common Burdock is common in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and slightly moist loamy soil. Habitats include woodland edges, weedy meadows, barnyards, roadsides and waste areas. This biennial "repugnant bur weed" plant has a low rosette of basal leaves in its 1st year and in its 2nd year becomes 3-6' tall with short flowering side stems. The basal leaves are up to 2' long and 1½' across. The upper stems terminate in small clusters of flowerheads on short stalks. Each flowerhead is about ¾–1" across, consisting of numerous disk florets and bract that have narrow hooked tips. Each pink or purple disk floret has a corolla that is narrowly cylindrical with 5 slender upright petals at the apex.

Common Burdock at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve August 11, 2012

Common Burdock along the Fox River August 17, 2013

Though it originated in Eurasia, Common Burdock (and Great Burdock) was adopted and used by Native Americans for centuries. Its roots have long been eaten around the world as a vegetable and has many medicinal uses in treatment of gastrointestinal ailments and respiratory problems. The Native American uses included crushing the roots and leaves for skin sores and ulcers, as a tea for rheumatism, and as a blood purifier. But it was well known that it should be avoided if pregnant or nursing. Reminder: see Do Not Disturb Notice.

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