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Flora of Cornwall (1999)

The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Flora of Cornwall (1999), which was a Tetrad Atlas (the maps had 2km square dots or Tetrads). The map on this web page depicts the plant's distribution at the 1km square scale and shows the records made pre-2000 which were used in the 1999 Flora and those made since.

Petasites fragrans - Winter Heliotrope



This winter-flowering plant was introduced to British gardens from North Africa in 1806. It soon escaped into the wild and is now well naturalised. Its usual flowering time is January to March, but in Cornwall it often starts in November and is in full flower at Christmas. Female flowers are unknown in this country and it spreads by vegetative propagation. Winter Heliotrope is especially common in West Cornwall forming extensive patches on road verges and banks and sometimes smothers low Cornish Hedges. It is also a frequent plant on the Isles of Scilly.



Click here to see Aphotoflora images by David Fenwick

Source:

French, C.N., Murphy, R.J. & Atkinson, M. 1999. Flora of Cornwall. Wheal Seton Press, Camborne.