Burdock

Burdock / Arctium spp.

Velcro, root medicine, and way more than a weed.

What It Is

Burdock is a biennial plant known for its massive taproot, fuzzy leaves, and burr-covered seed heads that inspired Velcro.

The root has long been used in food and herbal traditions — think sweet, earthy, and grounding.

Use It Like This

• Peel, slice, and roast (like carrots or parsnips)

• Simmer into soups or stews

• Dry and powder for teas or tincture bases

• Shave raw into slaws with vinegar or sesame

• Ferment into wild burdock pickles

Tip: Second-year roots are tougher. First-year burdock is ideal for culinary use.

Harvest Notes

• Use a shovel or narrow spade — roots go deep

• Harvest in fall of year one or early spring of year two

• Watch for lookalikes like cocklebur and curly dock

• Always dig away from contaminated soils or roadsides

Herbal Snapshot

Traditionally used for skin health, digestion, and lymphatic support.

Consult a qualified herbalist if using for therapeutic purposes.