Winter Heliotrope

Winter Heliotrope

Petasites fragrans

A member of the daisy family, this is a non-native introduced from Mediterranean North Africa as a garden plant in 1806. It is considered invasive because of its rampantly spreading rhizomes, but the pale mauve flowers have a lovely vanilla fragrance and can be a food source for foraging bees in early Spring.

The scientific name Petasites comes from the Greek word for a broad-rimmed felt hat, petasos. The leaves can indeed become large enough to act as a sunshade or umbrella.

Susannah English

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