Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale • Asteraceae
🌱 Seed Category
Herb
🌍 Origin Region
Eurasia; now naturalized worldwide in temperate regions
📅 Days to Maturity
85 to 95 days from seed to first flower/harvest, with continuous harvesting possible throughout the growing season.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9; acts as a hardy perennial in most temperate climates.
About This Seed
Small, oblong-ovate achene seeds attached to a slender stalk (beak) topped with a fluffy white pappus (parachute) of fine hairs for wind dispersal. The resulting plant is a low-growing perennial herb with a deep taproot, basal rosette of deeply lobed leaves, and bright yellow composite flower heads.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring and Fall; direct sow in early spring or autumn; highly frost-tolerant
Germination
Germination takes 7 to 14 days at an optimal soil temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. High germination rate; requires light to germinate, so seeds should be surface-sown and not buried.
Planting Instructions
Surface sow or press lightly into soil at a depth of 1/16 inch, as they need light. Space seeds 6 to 12 inches apart. Adapts to almost any well-draining soil type with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Moderate watering needs, but establishes deep taproots allowing strong drought tolerance once mature.
Companion Plants
Beneficial companion to fruit trees, herbs, and most vegetables due to its deep taproot bringing up nutrients. Avoid planting where strict weed control is required.
Special Characteristics
Highly resilient weed with high drought and cold tolerance. Extremely pollinator-friendly, providing early-season nectar for bees. Entire plant is edible and possesses various traditional herbal and medicinal uses.