Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum officinale, the dandelion or common dandelion, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the dandelion genus in the family Asteraceae (syn. Compositae). The common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of many silver-tufted fruits that disperse in the wind. These balls are usually called "clocks" in both British and American English. The name "blowball" is also used.The common dandelion grows in temperate regions of the world in areas with moist soils. It is most often considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but the leaves, flowers, and roots are sometimes used in herbal medicine and as food.

Characteristics

Plant Type

Herb

Life Cycle

Perennial

Genus

Taraxacum

Family

Asteraceae

Hardiness Zone

3-10

Mature Height

1 cm to 61 cm

Mature Spread

20 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Leaf Type

Deciduous, Semi-evergreen

Flower Color

Yellow, Gold

Flower Size

2.54 cm to 4.06 cm

Bloom Time

Spring, Early summer

Planting Time

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Harvest Time

Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer

Native Area

Turkey, Sweden, Morocco, Belarus, Russia, Germany, Argentina, Iceland, Romania, Belgium, Portugal, France, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Poland, Greece, Ukraine, Norway, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Albania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary

Tags (14)

Common Names (14)