Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Features a basal rosette of oblong or lance-shaped leaves that are deeply lobed and sharply toothed, leading to the characteristic name resembling a lion's tooth, with a prominent central midrib.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate watering when soil dries out; highly resilient to drought once established
- Growth
- Perennial plant forming a low-growing basal rosette with a deep taproot, reaching a height and spread of about 12 inches
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water moderately when the soil is dry. Fertilization is generally not necessary as it thrives in diverse soil fertility levels.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate watering when soil dries out; highly resilient to drought once established
Soil
Adaptable to most well-draining soil types with a neutral to slightly acidic or alkaline pH range between 6.0 and 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9
Growth habit
Perennial plant forming a low-growing basal rosette with a deep taproot, reaching a height and spread of about 12 inches
Bloom season
Blooms primarily in spring through summer with bright yellow composite flower heads composed of numerous ray florets
Propagation
Propagates readily from wind-borne seeds or through root division
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient, but can occasionally be affected by fungal leaf spot or powdery mildew in overly humid conditions
Similar species
Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) and sow thistles (Sonchus species), which can be distinguished by branched flowering stems and different hair patterns on the leaves