Arctic Coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus var. palmatus

aka Sweet Coltsfoot, Alpine or Arctic Butterbur. Prefers cold wet areas and pushes its stem through the ground at the beginning of March unlike most composites which bloom late. Can grown to 3 feet (1m). The flower heads are purplish or white turning to dandelion puffs by early summer. By mid-summer the fan-leaves reach their full size of 1 foot or more. Common in wet places, along streams, wooded areas and seeps. Despite its name it is found in lower elevations up to 5,000 ft. (ref. Clark)