Arctium Lappa, commonly known as Greater Burdock, is a tall biennial plant with large, broad leaves that have a unique pubescent texture on the underside. Native to the temperate regions of the Old World, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and from the British Isles through to Russia and Japan, this plant is naturalized almost everywhere and is usually found in disturbed areas. The root of the Greater Burdock is crisp and has a sweet, mild and pungent flavor that makes it a popular vegetable in Japan where it is widely used in cuisine. In traditional Chinese and Western herbal medicine, Burdock is known as one of the best detoxifying herbs, used to treat conditions caused by an 'overload' of toxins, such as skin problems, throat infections, and other bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Burdock root is also known to eliminate heavy metals from the body. With its many medicinal properties and uses as a vegetable, Greater Burdock is a must-have in your garden.