Ontario Wildflowers website

Sweet Coltsfoot
Petasites frigidus
(formerly Petasites palmatus)

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) Other common names: Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot, Northern Sweet Coltsfoot

Other scientific names: Petasites palmatus

Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae)

Distinctive features: Deeply lobed leaves.

Similar species:
  •   Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)


Flowers: Spring;  White;  7 or more parts (petals);  Yellow/cream. Blooms in springbefore leaves appear.

Leaves: Deeply lobed.

Height: 12-50 cm (5-20 in)

Habitat: Forests;  Swamps and wet forests.

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 358    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 178   

Notes: I've only seen this plant in more northerly locales such as Bruce and Grey counties and northward (ie, not near Lake Erie, for example).

Photographs: 220 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) flowers

Sweet Coltsfoot flowers.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) plant

An entire Sweet Coltsfoot plant in bloom.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) flowers

Closeup view of a couple of Sweet Coltsfoot flowers. Each "flower" is actually a cluster of small flowers, as is typical of the Composite Family.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) flower

Closeup of a single flower cluster.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) leaf

A typical Sweet Coltsfoot leaf.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) leaves

Sometimes the leaves are more rounded.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) plants

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) plants

A nice patch.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) leaves

Sweet Coltsfoot leaves just opening in mid-May.

Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) seeds

Sweet Coltsfoot seeds.


Range map for Sweet Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)