Taraxacum officinale Seeds | Common Dandelion
LATIN NAME: Taraxacum officinale
COMMON NAME: Common Dandelion, French Dandelion, Thick-Leaved Dandelion
Plant Profile
Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a herbaceous, perennial in the daisy family. This French, thick-leaved strain boasts tender, fleshy leaves, and the whole plant is well-known for its cheerful, golden bloom and its many traditional uses. It is the sort of plant that quietly justifies the space it occupies.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the daisy family, Taraxacum officinale contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. Dandelion has a genuine and distinguished place in both food and botanical research. Because it has been grown for so long, its garden habits are thoroughly documented.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Common Dandelion has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Ecologically, dandelion is a generous plant of the fields. For a grower, dandelion is an easy and generous plant, and for a gardener it brings cheerful, golden bloom and a plant of many uses. This strain of lowly dandelion boasts tender fleshy leaves, topping all other fruits and vegetables for iron content. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
The dandelion is a complete folk pharmacy: the root is a classic bitter for liver and digestion, the leaves a potassium-rich diuretic green, the flowers a honey-wine tradition, and every part is edible. Few weeds are so generous.
Growing from Seed
Common Dandelion is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Among the Taraxacum group, it is one of the more distinctive species in cultivation. Sun, free drainage and a patient first year are all it really requires.
Related Reading
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