Invasive Plant Details
Back to Full ListCommon Burdock
Latin Name: Arctium minus
Identification
Flower: Purple, thistle-like flower heads that develop into bur-like seed pods, blooming from midsummer to fall.
Leaves: Large, heart-shaped, dark green leaves with whitish undersides.
Stems: Erect, thick, and branching, growing up to 2 meters tall.
Growing Environment: Prefers disturbed soils, roadsides, fields, and waste areas.
Growth Habit: A biennial herb that grows as a basal rosette of large leaves in its first year, followed by a tall, flowering stalk in its second year. The plant is known for its bur-like seed pods that stick to fur and clothing. In situ, common burdock often forms dense stands of large-leaved plants in disturbed areas. Non-toxic, and roots are edible when young.
Impacts on Environment
Impacts: Invasive in some regions due to its aggressive spread via bur-like seeds.

 
               
               
               
              