wither, the broad, heart-shaped leaves with jagged margins appear (usually June to July)  These flowers prefer damp clay soils and full sunlight.  They are common in fields, along road and trail sides and waste areas. 
Coltsfoot is a non-native species that was introduced to the US by early colonists.  It was brought to our shores due to its medicinal importance and has now naturalized and is recognized as a common wildflower in our forests.  Coltsfoot is not considered an invasive species since it has had little to no impact on native species.
Coltsfoot has a long history of medicinal use, mainly as a treatment for respiratory ailments such as coughs, hoarseness, and bronchitis.  It is also used as a poultice (fresh mashed leaves) for difficult to heal sores.  Both the flowers and leaves are used, but these parts are harvested separately due to the staggered appearance of flowers and leaves.  Modern herbalists either prepare an infusion (like tea) or a syrup that is taken orally for respiratory problems.  However, most herbalists are moving away from the use of coltsfoot due to recent findings that it contains highly carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

  Coltsfoot is one of our earliest wildflowers to emerge in the spring.  In March, this perennial sends out individual stalks directly from the roots with reddish leaf bracts.  Each 5-10" stalk is topped with a bright yellow composite bloom.  After the flowers