Petasites fragrans

The Petasites fragrans or Petasites pyrenaicus, also known as Winter heliotrope, Fragrant Coltsfoot or Pyrénées Petasites, is a vigorous perennial ground cover that captivates with its pale lilac winter flowering and delightful heliotrope scent, reminiscent of vanilla. Its vigour and adaptability can be an advantage or a disadvantage: ideal in a wild and shady spot or on a riverbank, it is not recommended for small gardens or flower beds that it would quickly overwhelm with its beautiful foliage. As charming as it may be, its tendency to spread must be contained.

The Petasites fragrans is a plant of the Asteraceae family, native to North Africa and widespread in wet places in the Mediterranean region. It has become adventive or naturalised in many Western Europe and Oceania regions. This plant grows equally well on sunny riverbanks and in marshy areas as under trees in dry shade. Limestone and dry soils in summer do not bother it as long as it is in the shade.

With its rapid growth, the fragrant Coltsfoot forms a strongly carpeting clump reaching a height of 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) depending on the soil but spreading indefinitely over time through its powerful trailing rhizome. The plant is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. Both categories flower at the same time, between January and March. The flower head has the shape of an ovoid cluster. It consists of small female or male heads gathered in panicles. The pastel mauve flowers exhale a delightfully sweet scent reminiscent of vanilla. The foliage persists in winter if temperatures do not drop below -7°C (19.4°F). It may disappear in summer if the soil is too dry, reappearing as soon as the rain returns. The leaves are round, heart-shaped at the base, with a toothed edge, measuring 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8in) in all directions. Each leaf is carried by a petiole 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12in) long. The upper side of the leaf is dark green, and it is hairy on the young leaves. The underside is a paler green, covered in fine hairs.

Winter heliotrope is a useful plant to bring a green and fragrant touch to the garden during a period of the year that is quite poor in flowers. It can be planted at the boundaries of a large garden to ccover a slope or a ditch, at the corner of a small shady courtyard, or even in a slightly neglected woodland. It will release its fragrance even in the garden's more "civilised" areas. However, care must be taken to ensure that it does not exceed the allotted limits, as it ignores property boundaries and the rules of civility between neighbours.