common burdock

plant

Also known as: Arctium minus, lesser burdock

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Burdock, belonging to the genus Arctium, is a biennial plant in the Asteraceae family. Native to Europe and Asia, it has naturalized across North America. While often considered a weed in the United States, burdock is cultivated for its edible root in Asia. Its distinctive feature is the globular flower head with prickly bracts, and its fruits are burrs that readily attach to clothing and fur. Common burdock (Arctium minus) forms a rosette in its first year and a tall, branched stem in its second, bearing purple or white flowers and producing achenes.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

burdock
Common, or lesser, burdock (Arctium minus) is a weed in North American pastures and hayfields and can be grown as a vegetable. The plant forms a low rosette during its first year and develops a tall branched stem during its second year. The leaves have a wavy…
Read More
Common, or lesser, burdock (Arctium minus) is a weed in North American pastures and hayfields and can be grown as a vegetable. The plant forms a low rosette during its first year and develops a tall branched stem during its second year. The leaves have a wavy…
Read More