EdibleMedicinal notes
Common Burdock
Arctium minus · Asteraceae
Photo gallery placeholder — add licensed plant images in Storage
Safety first
Avoid polluted soils. Learn carefully before digging roots.
Educational field guide only. Never eat a wild plant without 100% confident identification. Not medical or legal advice.
About
Biennial with large leaves and burrs. First-year roots and young stalks are classic wild foods.
Harvest calendar
Months: Apr · May · Sep · Oct
Seasons: Early Spring, Spring, Fall
Parts used: roots, young stalks
Habitat & skill
Habitats: Disturbed / urban wild, Field edge & meadow
Difficulty: moderate
Identification
Huge basal leaves; purple thistle-like flowers; Velcro-like burrs.
Harvest notes
First-year roots fall/early spring; peeled young petioles in spring.
Preparation
Roots simmered; stems peeled and cooked.
Stewardship
Abundant in disturbed ground; leave some for wildlife.
Traditional / medicinal notes
Educational context only — not medical advice. Traditional root use in folk herbalism; not medical advice.