Common Dandelion

(Taraxacum officinale)

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Alexis

CC BY 4.0

Image By: Alexis

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Taraxacum officinale, commonly known as Common Dandelion, is a semi-deciduous perennial herb native to Eurasia and has naturalized in many parts of the world, including forests, grasslands, and urban environments. It typically forms a basal rosette of leaves and is known for its bright yellow flower heads that appear mainly in spring and early summer, although it can bloom almost year-round in mild climates. The flower heads are highly recognizable, turning into spherical seed heads with numerous silver-tufted fruits that are dispersed by the wind. The stems, which can be tinted purplish, are hollow and may grow upright or lax, often rising above the foliage when in bloom. Each flower head consists of 40 to over 100 florets with corollas that are yellow or orange-yellow.

The Common Dandelion is valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, with leaves that can be eaten in salads or cooked, and roots that are used in herbal medicine. It is also appreciated by wildlife, providing an early source of nectar for pollinators. In cultivation, it adapts to a wide range of conditions but prefers full sun to part shade and medium water availability. It thrives in soils with slow to medium drainage. While it is easy to grow, it can become problematic due to its vigorous reproductive strategy, with seeds that can spread widely and a deep taproot that makes it difficult to eradicate once established. It is considered invasive in some regions, so caution is advised when planting it outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 0.2-0.5 feet
Width: 0.2-0.5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to Eurasia and naturalized in many parts of the world, including forests, grasslands, and urban environments

Other Names

Common Names: Blowball, Dandelion, Faceclock, Wiesenlöwenzahn, Pissenlit, Tawao, Tohetaka, Tohetake, Tohetea, Paardenbloem

Scientific Names: , Taraxacum officinale, Taraxacum vulgare, Leontodon taraxacum, Taraxacum taraxacum, Taraxacum dens-leonis subsp. officinale, Leontodon officinalis, Chondrilla taraxacum, Crepis taraxacum,

GBIF Accepted Name: Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggins