Hypochaeris radicata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-poh-KAIR-iss rad-ee-KAY-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Cat's Ear is a perennial weed from Eurasia in the aster family. It has naturalized on every continent except Antarctica. It has a long taproot and a basal rosette of leaves. The flowers are often mistaken for dandelions as they both form wind-borne seeds. It is found in lawns, fields, roadsides and any disturbed area.
Cat's Ear tolerates a wide range of conditions and readily grows in most soil types but is not usually found in wetlands. It produces many seeds per plant per year and each seed can become a mature plant in 2 months. It is considered invasive in some areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hypochaeris
- Species:
- radicata
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Caucasus
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked in stir-fries. The roots can be roasted and ground for a coffee substitute.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds have a tuft of white hair to float on the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- pale yellow flowers with 20-30 rays and green bracts at the base. Blooms mid-summer to early fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Smooth, wiry, milky stems; basal rosette of dissected, densely hairy leaves up to 6 inches long and 2 inches across.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
