Winter Heliotrope - Petasites fragrans

This plant forms large patches of heart or kidney shaped leaves. It is dioecious but only the pale pink male flowers are found in Britain and they have very short petals (rays). It flowers as early as January, with only leaves visible after flowering.

Damp places such as stream sides, hedge bottoms and woodland, particularly near gardens from where it may have escaped.

Flowers from November through to February but has mostly finished by March 1st.

Perennial. The creeping rhizome of this plant can make it an invasive weed.

Locally common in England, Ireland and Wales, Petasites fragrans has fewer significant sites the farther north you go and it is largely absent from Northern Scotland.

Occasional and local in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 10 of the 617 tetrads.

This plant is listed as an invasive non-native species: NNSS Winter Heliotrope