# greater burdock (*Arctium lappa*) Greater burdock is a tall plant with big leaves and purple flowers. It grows in many places and has a long, thick root that people sometimes use in cooking. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![greater burdock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/ArctiumLappa1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ArctiumLappa1.jpg) ## Appearance The greater burdock is a tall plant known for its very large, heart-shaped leaves that are green on top and whitish-woolly underneath. Its distinctive purple, thistle-like flowers eventually develop into globe-shaped burrs covered in hooked bristles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Arctium ## Interesting facts - Burdock leaves can grow so huge, a single leaf can be wider than a human head! - Its incredibly deep taproot can grow over a meter long, acting like a natural well! - The spiky burrs of burdock inspired Swiss engineer George de Mestral to invent Velcro! - Young burdock roots are a popular, crunchy vegetable called 'gobo' in Japanese cuisine! ## Special abilities - **Velcro Architect:** Greater burdock has sticky, hooked burrs that latch onto animal fur and clothing, helping it scatter its seeds far and wide. - **Deep Drinker:** Greater burdock can grow a long, sturdy taproot deep into the soil to reach underground water and nutrients. - **Shade Master:** Greater burdock has enormous, broad leaves that efficiently capture sunlight and outcompete smaller plants around it. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-300 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Visits flowers for nectar, aiding reproduction. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on young leaves and shoots. - **Eaten by:** [Garden tiger moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-tiger-moth) (*Arctia caja*) — Caterpillars feed on burdock leaves. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat any plants unless a grown-up says it's safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify greater burdock? 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 greater burdock? 60-300 cm ### How wide does greater burdock spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on greater burdock? 2-4 cm ### When does greater burdock bloom? Summer ### Is greater burdock edible? Yes ### Is greater burdock toxic? None ### What is greater burdock's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Inniswood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inniswood-botanical-garden-and-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [Old Mill Site Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-mill-site-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Plymouth Pillars Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plymouth-pillars-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Wangeliner Garten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wangeliner-garten) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park [View all places to see greater burdock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/greater-burdock) ## 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: [Greater Burdock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-burdock)