Tussilago farfara

Tussilago farfara

Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot is a perennial herbaceous plant that spreads by seeds and rhizomes. It is often found in colonies of dozens of plants. The flowers resemble dandelions and bear scale-leaves on long stems in early spring. The leaves appear after the flowers have set seed and wither in early summer. The flower heads are yellow florets with an outer row of bracts. The plant typically grows to 10–30 cm in height and has leaves with angular teeth on their margins.

Details

Order:

Asterales

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Tussilago

Chemistry:

Coltsfoot contains tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including senecionine and senkirkine. These compounds are known for their mutagenetic activity.

Uses:

Coltsfoot has been used in traditional medicine for treating disorders of the respiratory tract, skin, locomotor system, viral infections, flu, colds, fever, rheumatism, and gout. It has also been used as a food product in confectionery and to make cough drops and hard candy. The plant is also used as a food source by some Lepidoptera species and is visited by honeybees for pollen and nectar.

Flowering time:

Early spring

Sowing time:

Plant height:

10–30 cm

Flower color:

Yellow

Suitable habitat:

Coltsfoot is widespread across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is also common in North and South America where it has been introduced. The plant thrives in waste and disturbed places, along roadsides, and paths.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

Tenders

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