Was given this plant, it is now well established. Was told it is "potassity" (sp?). I cannot find anything on the internet using that or similar spelling. It survives zone 3/4 winters. I have attached photos of its flower (comes before the leaves), and the leaves.
The scale of the leaf suggests it might be Petasites japonicus var. giganteus - there is at least one photo of this species on the UBC site - a photo of the day submitted in 2005. Thanks for submitting it - monster leaves!
AKA 'Fuki', spreads like crazy-my Japanese neighbor says the name translates roughly as 'explosion', or 'suddenly expands' (one root piece covers a 200 sf area 5 years later), so keep an eye on it or grow it where it can run...or contain it. Stalks are edible, and make a nice spring vegetable, stir-fried.
________________________________________________ Thanks.....it is spreading a bit too much already, and I will try transplanting some of it elsewhere. It is not the best place for it....on a fairly dry sunny hillside, but it still does pretty well. When the leaves start to come, I will try the stir fried stalks, maybe mixed with some burdock.
