You’re most likely to find it along roadsides, ditches, gardens, and other commonly disturbed areas.
Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot is an aggressive plant that resembles a dandelion. While both dandelions and coltsfoot are not native to North America, dandelions aren’t considered a threat to the ecosystem, and often act as an early-season food source for pollinators.
Coltsfoot, on the other hand, is a different story. It can spread quickly and crowd out native plants, causing significant harm.
But this is the plant that got people talking on our Facebook page, with many arguing the plant is beneficial, due to its ability to treat sore throats, fever, gout, and the flu, and therefore not invasive.
It’s true: People have been brewing coltsfoot tea and using it to soothe ailments for centuries. But coltsfoot works best in its native range. In Canada, it can cause negative ecological impacts.
A coltsfoot flower vs. a dandelion. Left: Łukasz Tkaczyk/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0. Dandelion file photo via Canva Pro.
Originally from parts of Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa, coltsfoot has been present in the U.S. since the 1840s and Canada since the 1920s, likely brought to North America by European settlers for medicinal purposes.