# Arctic Butterbur (*Petasites frigidus*) Arctic Butterbur is a special plant that grows in cold places. It has big, round leaves and pretty flowers that can be purple or white. This plant loves to be near water and can be found in wet areas. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Arctic Butterbur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Petasites_frigidus_38749.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petasites_frigidus_38749.JPG) ## Appearance The Arctic Butterbur has distinct, large kidney-shaped leaves that emerge after its early spring blooms. Its compact flower heads display numerous small, white to purplish-pink florets, carried on a sturdy, often fuzzy stem, making it stand out in cold, damp environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Petasites ## Interesting facts - Arctic Butterbur is often one of the first plants to bloom after winter! - It spreads using underground stems, creating vast green carpets on the tundra! - Its huge leaves were traditionally used to wrap and keep butter cool! - This plant can grow in places so wet and cold, few others survive! ## Special abilities - **Snow Bloom:** Arctic Butterbur can emerge and bloom even when snow covers the ground, allowing it to capture early spring sunlight. - **Ground Blanket:** Arctic Butterbur has large leaves that quickly cover the ground, helping to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. - **Early Provider:** Arctic Butterbur blooms very early in spring, providing vital first food for emerging pollinators when other plants are dormant. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early Spring (March-May) - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Reindeer/Caribou (*Rangifer tarandus*) — Early leaves provide food for migrating herds. - **Pollinates:** Polar Bumblebee (*Bombus polaris*) — Provides crucial nectar and pollen when scarce. - **Eaten by:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Young shoots and leaves are a food source. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not touch or eat any wild plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Arctic Butterbur? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Arctic Butterbur? 5-30 cm ### How wide does Arctic Butterbur spread? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Arctic Butterbur? 1-3 cm ### When does Arctic Butterbur bloom? Early Spring (March-May) ### Is Arctic Butterbur edible? Yes ### Is Arctic Butterbur toxic? None ### What is Arctic Butterbur's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Santiam State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santiam-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest - [Bremner Historic Mining District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bremner-historic-mining-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Elwha Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elwha-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Mount McKinley National Park Headquarters District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-mckinley-national-park-headquarters-district) — Alaska, US · National Park - [Olympic National Park Headquarters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/olympic-national-park-headquarters-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District [View all places to see Arctic Butterbur](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/arctic-butterbur) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Arctic Butterbur: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-butterbur)