Burdock, 'Takinogawa'

(Arctium lappa) Known as ‘gobo’ in Japan, the roots of this stately plant are a beloved and traditional vegetable in Japanese cuisine. The taproots can grow to well over 4’ (though we are rarely able to pull more than 12-16 inches of them) and are popular pickled, sautéed, in soups, and with ramen. We often slice some of the root into a pot of cooking rice to subtly infuse it with its delicate, earthy flavor. In Chinese medicine, it is known as a blood purifier and diuretic. From a perspective of purely botanical admiration, the plants are magnificent! Rosettes of enormous broad fuzzy leaves grow to 3’ the first year before bolting in their second year to a branching spread of up to 8’ tall and 6’ wide with deep magenta thistle-like blooms. More than once we've eaten lunch in the shade of the burdock canopy! You now have so many reason to try your hand at it! The easily recognizable sticky ‘burrs’ that are the seedpods also provided the original idea for the hooks and loops of Velcro.
80 days. UO

Packet: 100 seeds

We hope to have Takinogawa back in 2026!