Very similar to Butterbur, Petasites hybridus is much smaller. Read on...

A perennial that creeps and can form a large patch. It likes shady damp places like woodland edges and hedge banks. The round (heart or kidney shaped), long stalked leaves are present all year. They can grow up to 200mm diameter. The flowers appear November to February (hence Winter heliotrope). It is dioecious with male and female flowers on different plants. Only male plants are present in the UK so there are no seeds and it spreads by branching rhizomes.  Each flower is pinky lilac, 10-12mm across and is on a spike 200-250mm tall. They are reputed to smell of vanilla. The creeping rhizomes can make this plant an invasive weed.

It originated from the North African region of the Mediterranean. It was introduced in 1806 as an ornamental plant and for ground cover. It was first recorded in the wild in 1835. It is now widely established in south west England and in local areas in north England. It can be found in Wales and Ireland but is insignificant in Scotland.