Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
A herbaceous perennial plant featuring a basal rosette of deeply lobed, lance-shaped leaves with prominent hairs on the underside of the central vein.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions. Exhibits moderate drought tolerance once established.
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial forming a low-growing basal rosette with a deep taproot, typically growing up to 12 inches tall and spreading 6 to 12 inches wide.
Care instructions
Requires full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Water moderately when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Fertilization is generally unnecessary as they adapt well to various soil nutrient levels.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions. Exhibits moderate drought tolerance once established.
Soil
Thrives in loamy, well-draining soils with a neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.0, though it adapts easily to sandy or clay conditions.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 3 through 9, demonstrating high resilience to varying seasonal temperatures.
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial forming a low-growing basal rosette with a deep taproot, typically growing up to 12 inches tall and spreading 6 to 12 inches wide.
Bloom season
Blooms from early spring through autumn, producing bright yellow composite flower heads on hollow stalks.
Propagation
Propagates primarily by wind-dispersed seeds or through root fragments left in the soil.
Common pests & issues
Generally resilient against pests and diseases, though fungal leaf spot or powdery mildew may occasionally occur in excessively humid conditions.
Similar species
Cat's ear (Hypochaeris radicata) and sow thistles (Sonchus species), which can be distinguished by branched flowering stems and different leaf hair characteristics.