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Taraxacum officinale

Blowball · Common Dandelion · Dandelion

Family AsteraceaeGenus Taraxacum

A single yellow dandelion flower head above a rosette of long, toothed green leaves
FlowerLiz FCC0
A plate of a dandelion: a rosette of jagged leaves, yellow flower heads, a white clock of seeds, and a thick taproot cut open, with florets and seeds enlarged.
IllustrationWalther Otto MüllerPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Low severity. Taraxinic acid.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
2-6 in5-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-0.5 ft60-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
EuropeGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Note
Deno's own verdict on the species: "But who wants to grow dandelions."Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
4.8-7.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 2, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

90% germination in 4–5 days.

The best of four. Six months dry at 40, then sow warm.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 31, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

76% germination in 3–5 days.

Fresh seed sown warm: 76%, most of it inside a week.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

53% germination.

Six months dry at 70 costs it a third of the germination, against 90% for seed stored at 40.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    15% came up here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 2%.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

15% germination.

15% in the cold and 2% after it. Sowing this one cold is simply worse.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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