giant butterbur; Japanese sweet coltsfoot
A perennial plant native to Japan, with edible stalks and buds. Often used in cooking (e.g., tempura, simmered dishes). The plant is also known for its large leaves.
In spring, butterbur buds start to appear.
Butterbur is delicious when simmered.
The plant name is usually written in kana. This is the most common spelling in modern Japanese.
Katakana spelling sometimes used in menus or botanical contexts.
Kanji form used especially in botanical or literary contexts. The reading ふふき is obsolete.
Rare variant kanji for butterbur.
Rare Chinese-derived kanji compound for butterbur.
Rare variant kanji for butterbur.
An ancient native Japanese plant name of uncertain derivation. 蕗 is a character of Chinese origin subsequently used to write the word.