A member of the Asteraceae (Daisy) family, coltsfoot is not a North American native although it is widespread in the Maritimes. It bears a single yellow flower and only opens in sunny weather.

It hails from Europe and parts of Asia and was most likely introduced to Canada for its history of medicinal purposes. It is found in Ontario, Quebec, and the maritime region in Canada.

Coltsfoot (related to the groundsel of the Senecioneae tribe) is a perennial rhizomatous forb that can grow between 5 to 50 centimeters tall.

The flowers resemble the Dandelion Taraxacum officinal (related to chicory of the Cichorieae tribe) and the Cat’s Ears Hypochaeris radicata flowers (but looking more closely it appears to be a dinosaur-age plant because of the disk florets that radiate from the center and especially its stems.

Its reddish-colored bracts seem almost snakelike. They range in color between yellow, pink, and white. It is a perennial herb. When closed, it may have a pink-orange tinge to the tips of the sepals or calyx which is quite lovely.

This unmistakable fleshy part is covered with clasping, scale-like leaves when you look closely which is very different from other similar plants.

The large basal leaves form on long petioles that grow up from the multi-branched rhizomes.

They resemble violet leaves. Its leaf blades are white and woolly on the undersides.

It has been said to resemble the shape of a horseshoe, hence its name.

If you look closely, dandelions have smooth stems without bracts though many think that they are seeing a dandelion from afar as they are similar in appearance.

It spreads both by rhizomes and by seed propagation. The rhizomes can remain dormant for years only to emerge when disturbed.

Look for this cheerful plant in early spring as it blooms well before dandelions do. Its common name derives from its leaves’ resemblance to a colt’s foot.

It produces its flowering stems long before its leaves. It may produce silvery-white seeds before leaf growth. Its brown nutlets are attached to a pappus much like the seeds of common dandelion. It grows in the sun and is intolerant of shade.

In ancient Greece, it was used as a symbol for an apothecary. The flowers were synonymous with healing and the flower symbol was used to indicate the residence of an herbalist.

The French word « tousser » means to cough and the Latin word « tussis » hence its use for respiratory disorders in the past as an expectorant.

All parts of the plant contain mucilage, and a bit of tannin as well as a trace of a bitter amorphous glucoside. Every part was used as medicine. It was traditionally used for treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema as a cough suppressant (Jaric et al., 2018). This plant has been used for millennia. According to Culpepper, https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/coltsf88.html

‘The fresh leaves, or juice, or syrup thereof, is good for a bad dry cough, or wheezing and shortness of breath. The dry leaves are best for those who have their rheums and distillations upon their lungs causing a cough: for which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very good. The distilled water hereof simply or with elder-flowers or nightshade is a singularly good remedy against all agues, to drink 2 OZ. at a time and apply cloths wet therein to the head and stomach, which also does much good being applied to any hot swellings or inflammations.

It helpeth St. Anthony’s fire (erysypelas) and burnings, and is singular good to take away wheals.’ In China, it is sold as a cough syrup commercially.

Some herbalists make a sun syrup with the flowers using maple syrup, tea, or tinctures using the leaves and flowers. The flowers and stems are delicious and delicately flavored.

The burnt ashes taste salty. Others make a tonic that fortifies hair and makes the skin look younger. However, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) lists it as poisonous in their database and may be linked to liver damage and cancer due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids it contains.

This plant’s reproduction is powered by the energy stored up from previous seasons.

They are considered as invasive in many places in the United States and are tolerant of many soil types and conditions even growing in gravel and disturbed areas as long as it is consistently moist. It tends to grow in the eastern parts of North America.

To smother it mustard and vetch are used in order to control it. It is also vulnerable to tramping on. Hand pulling is also used to eradicate it however, the whole rhizome must be removed. It can grow invasively in forests following fire. https://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wow/coltsfoot.pdf

Birds may take whole flower heads from the coltsfoot plant to their nest. Goldfinches, butterflies, and moths may enjoy it. It provides pollen and nectar for bees.

Its benefits to wildlife are minimal. Consider planting native species instead.

Part of the province’s coat of arms, the marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata) is an early spring flower that supports wildlife. The common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is also native to New Brunswick. It is also found in a large area of the Americas, from east of the Rocky Mountains to as far south as Bolivia.

Plus it is flood-resistant. The flowers support butterflies and moths, including North America’s largest moth, the cecropia moth. Birds and mammals also enjoy the berries.

Subscribe to Nature Connexion Blog & Newsletter