Native Plant Database

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Weyand, Phyllis

Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers

Blowball, Common dandelion, Dandelion, Faceclock

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: TAOF

USDA Native Status: Native and Introduced

A common weed, its solitary flower head, each with numerous yellow ray flowers, tops a hollow, leafless stalk that rises from the center of a rosette of toothed leaves. Stem juice is milky.

The popular name comes from dent de lion, French for lions tooth, referring to the teeth on the leaves. The young leaves may be used in salads and soups; wine is made from the heads. Several species, some native to high mountain meadows, are similar to the Common Dandelion but may have reddish-brown fruits and outer bracts that do not curl.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Leaf Color: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: AL , AK , AZ , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , HI , ID , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , MT , NE , NV , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WA , WV , WI , WY , DC
Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Throughout North America, but rare in extreme southeastern United States.
Native Habitat: Throughout
USDA Native Status: L48(NI), AK(NI), HI(I), PR(I), CAN(NI), GL(NI), SPM(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Esamy

Benefit

Use Food: The tender young leaves, rich in vitamins and minerals, make good salad or cooked greens. The delicate yellow flowers can be added to fritters and pancakes or made into wine. (Kershaw)
Use Medicinal: The mildly laxative and diuretic leaves have been used in medicinal teas, digestive aids, diet drinks and rustic beers. (Kershaw) Tea of roots drunk for heartburn. Tea of leaves for tonic. Blossoms boiled with pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides) leaves and drank to releive menstrual cramsp. (Weiner)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
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Question: Hi Mr. Smartyplants, What the most common wildflower in North America? My friend thinks it's the oxeye daisy. Is this correct? I work for a puzzle publishing company, and am doing research for a themed puzzle. The puzzle is about wildflowers. Hope you can help! Debra in Milford, CT
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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Earth Medicine, Earth Food (1990) Michael A. Weiner
Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
* Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Taraxacum officinale in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Taraxacum officinale in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Taraxacum officinale

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-06-04
Research By: TWC Staff

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