Butterbur Root | Petasites hybridus

What Is Butterbur?

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a large perennial plant of the daisy family that grows in damp places along streams, rivers and wet meadows across Europe and northern Asia. It is best known for its enormous, rhubarb-like leaves, which can reach up to 3 feet (90 cm) across.

Its common name comes from those leaves. Before refrigeration, farmers and dairymaids wrapped butter in the cool, wide leaves to keep it fresh in summer. The botanical name Petasites comes from the Greek petasos, a broad-brimmed hat, also inspired by the giant leaves.

In early spring, before the leaves appear, butterbur sends up thick spikes of pinkish-purple flowers. The plant spreads by a thick, creeping rhizome, which is the part dug and dried as butterbur root.

Butterbur root has a long history in European herbal tradition. However, the raw root naturally contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that can damage the liver. Commercial butterbur preparations are made from specially processed extracts with these compounds removed. For that reason we offer dried butterbur root only for botanical collections, herbal study and craft use, and not for tea or any internal use.

Our butterbur root contains only the dried root with nothing added. It is sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.