Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Familiar lawn weed and traditional liver and kidney tonic. Every part is edible — leaves in salads, roots roasted as coffee substitute, flowers in syrups and wines.

Hardiness ratings

Dandelion hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–10 −45.6 °C to 4.4 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–9 −40 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–6 −15 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Most temperate gardeners consider it a weed but it is genuinely useful — taproot brings deep nutrients to the surface
  • Important early-season food source for bees
  • Generally safe; mild diuretic effect
  • Always consult a qualified medical or herbal practitioner before using any plant medicinally

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Dandelion against your zones

Reference

Dandelion on Wikipedia