Taraxacum officinale agg.
dandelion
The common dandelion provides a good nectar source for flying insects and a larval food source for moths. Its bright yellow ray florets are mainly borne in April and June followed by seed heads or clocks that disperse on the breeze. It is a tap-rooted perennial that exudes a milky sap from its hollow stem and persists from a basal rosette of long, toothed leaves
Other common names
blowballcankerwort
see morefairy clock
heart-fever grass
Irish daisy
lion's teeth
milk gowan
pee in the bed
pissabed
priest's crown
swine's snout
cankerweed [2]
horse gowan [2]
yellow gowan [3]
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
Ultimate spread
Growing conditions
Moisture
pH
Colour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
Exposure
Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Genus
Taraxacum are a large genus of herbaceous perennial plants native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Leaves are around 5 to 25cm long and the yellow to orange flower heads open during the day and close at night.
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Happy in a wide range of conditions. Prefers a rich soil. Naturally found in grassy places and waste ground
Propagation
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
None required
Pests
Trouble-free
Diseases
Trouble-free
Get involved
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