Common Dandelions
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelions are perennial flowers often construed as nothing more than a weed, but they are colourful, low-maintenance plants that can provide variety to any garden.
They are easy to grow (white)
They are even easier to harvest seeds (green)
Planting and Maintenance Needs
It will take 2-4 weeks to germinate
For optimal growth, put a dusting of soil over a seed spaced 12-18" apart
They can grow in nearly any soil type and only need the occasional watering and prefer more sun
Zones 3-9 are optimal for outdoor growth
Over the course of 1-2 weeks a flower will open on a 8-18" stem
It will be another week or so until the blowball forms, the white ball of seeds
The flower head will die off after another 1-2 weeks and more heads will grow
Seed Harvesting
When the blowball is ready, it will form a white sphere where the flower was
The seeds can be plucked off of the stem easily
Each blowball is made up of about 200 seeds
Uses
The name officianale refers to its pharmaceutic use in folk remedies
Though further study is needed, dandelions have been used as diuretics
Dandelions have seen use as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories
All parts of the plant are edible and non-toxic, depending on the components of the soil
The blooms can be used to make JELLY and SYRUP
If healthy isn't a concern, try FRIED BLOSSOMS
Young leaves and buds can be eaten raw in a salad
Older leaves are bitter and can be cooked with EGGS
The roots can be dry-roasted to make tea
Facts
Many European dandelions were brought to the Americas for their culinary use in the 1700s
Dandelions can either form seeds from the pollen of other dandelions or self-fertilize, so are used in experiments that require little genetic diversity
A dandelion seed can drift over 100km in fair winds
Over the course of a year, one plant can produce over 2000 seeds
Dandelion roots can sell for up to $31.75/lb
The name Dandelion comes from the French "Dents de lion" and the name Taraxacum similarly means "lion's tooth"
References
Meet a plant: Dandelion - Duke University. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://gardens.duke.edu/sites/default/files/Duke%20Gardens%20-
%20Meet%20a%20Plant%20Dandelion.pdf
Dandelion herb seeds for planting (taraxacum officinale) seed needs. Seed Needs LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.seedneeds.com/products/dandelion-
Stearn, W.T. (1992). Botanical Latin: History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary, Fourth edition. David and Charles.
Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 15(8), 929–934. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0152
Mills, Kimkim (2021, April 19). How to make dandelion jelly. Homestead Acres. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.homestead-acres.com/how-to-make-dandelion-
Aleksandra. (2022, September 21). Dandelion Syrup - cookinpolish – Polish food recipes. CookINPolish. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://cookinpolish.com/dandelion-
Malley, Shannon (n.d.). Recipe for fried dandelion blossoms. Almanac.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.almanac.com/recipe/fried-dandelion-blossoms
https://www.abeautifulplate.com/sauteed-dandelion-greens-with-eggs/
Tekiela, Stan (1999). Wildflowers of Minnesota: Field Guide. Cambridge, Minnesota: Adventure Publications, Inc. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-885061-63-8.
Lyman, J., Ellstrand, N. Clonal diversity in taraxacum officinale (compositae), an apomict. Heredity 53, 1–10 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1984.58
CBC/Radio Canada. (2018, October 18). Dandelion seeds can fly up to 100 km, and now we know how | CBC news. CBCnews. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dandelion-seeds-can-fly-100-km-and-now-we-know-how-1.4868619
Dandelions. Fran Stallings - Storyteller. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.franstallings.com/Environmentor/Dandelions