Is coltsfoot invasive?

Yes, it spreads rapidly through underground rhizomes and can be difficult to remove.

It blooms very early in the spring, often while snow is still on the ground.

Plant guide

Coltsfoot.

Tussilago farfara

Pronounced tuh-SIH-lah-go FAR-fah-rah

Also known as Colt's-Foot, Colts-foot, Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot is a charming perennial that pops up early in the spring with bright yellow flowers. It is well known for its medicinal history and its ability to thrive in disturbed soil. You will often see its leaves appear only after the flowers have faded.

Another photo of Coltsfoot — Photo by Michael Ellis (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 4 to 12 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural damp habitat. Watch for wilting leaves which indicate the plant needs more water. It spreads quickly, so keep an eye on it if you prefer to contain its growth.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks and damaged leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot in early spring if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Moist, well draining, clay or loam
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -30 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, long lived via rhizomes.
Deer and rabbits: High

Safety

People: The plant is considered toxic due to the presence of alkaloids.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep children away from this plant as ingestion of any part is harmful.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger mild allergic reactions in some people during the early spring.
Edibility: This plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage if consumed.

How to identify it

Bright yellow dandelion like flowers
Large hoof shaped basal leaves
White woolly hairs on leaf undersides
Flowers appear on scaly stalks

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, silver, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 2 to 3cm

Problems to watch for

RustCommon
AphidsUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant dies back to the ground in winter. No special care is needed as it is very hardy.
In containers: Not recommended for containers due to its aggressive rhizomatous spread.

Division

1. Dig up a section of the rhizome in early spring.
2. Cut the rhizome into smaller pieces with at least one bud.
3. Replant immediately in moist soil.

Plant in areas where its aggressive spreading nature can be contained by hardscaping or lawn edges.

Grows well with

Primrose · They share similar early spring blooming habits and moisture requirements.

Similar species

Dandelion · Both have yellow flowers, though dandelions bloom later and have different leaf structures.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Tussilago
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa.
Conservation: It is considered an invasive weed in many parts of North America and should be managed carefully.

It is a pioneer species that quickly colonizes bare, damp, or clay heavy soils.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, historical herbal medicine

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is coltsfoot invasive?: Yes, it spreads rapidly through underground rhizomes and can be difficult to remove.
When does it bloom?: It blooms very early in the spring, often while snow is still on the ground.

Where the name comes from

The name Tussilago comes from the Latin tussis meaning cough, referring to its historical use. Farfara is an old Latin name for the plant.

Good to know

It is often called the son before the father because flowers appear before leaves.
The leaves were historically used in herbal cough remedies.
It thrives in disturbed soil where other plants struggle.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.