Meadow Goat's Beard Tragopogon pratensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Tragopogon lamottei
- Tragopogon orientalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- tra-go-POH-gon pray-TEN-sis
- Description
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Yellow Goat's Beard is an ornamental biennial wildflower with edible roots, shoots, stems, and leaves. This wildflower is typically found along roadsides, woodlands, fields, and other disturbed areas. The plant is a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. Other common names include Meadow Goat's Beard, Meadow Salsify, Noonflower, and Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon.
The plant is native to Europe to Central Asia and Turkey. It has been introduced to widespread areas of Canada, Haiti, and the United States.
The origin of the genus name Tragopogon is derived from two Greek words. Tragos means "goat" and pogon means "beard." "Beard" references the fuzzy seedhead that is produced after flowering. The species name pratensis means "of the meadows" and refers to its typical habitat. The species common name Jack-Go-To- Bed-At-Noon refers to the flowering trait of closing by noon on sunny days.
Yellow Goat's Beard performs best in full sun, sandy, loamy, or clay soils and tolerates strong winds. It is intolerant to shade. The plant reseeds itself from its "giant dandelion" plume, which is easily carried off by the wind.
The plant is biennial and forms a low-growing rosette the first year. In the second year, the plant produces one or more flowering stems that are 1 to 3 feet tall. The stem is erect and contains a milky sap. The leaves are grass-like, green with a whitish cast, and the leaf blades curve backward at the tips. From May to August a yellow daisy-like flower appears at the top of the stem. The fruit is a fluffy tannish white pappas that is easily carried off by the wind to reseed.
Yellow Goat's Beard has ornamental, medicinal, and edible properties.
Bees and other insects are attracted to the flowers for nectar and pollination. Small mammals are not attracted to the bitter-tasting sap of the foliage, stems, and roots. This plant could be considered for a Wildflower Garden, Pollinator Garden, or Cottage Garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- grows 1-3 feet tall
- roots, stems, and leaves have a milky sap
- the foliage is grass-like with curling of the leaf blade at the tips
- smooth green foliage with a whitish-cast
- deep yellow solitary daisy-like flowers
- the flower opens in the morning on sunny days and closes by noon
- 8 floral bracts surround the flower and are as long as or shorter than the petals
- giant dandelion-like fuzzy seedhead
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems:
The plant is generally pest and disease-free. Spittlebugs may be found on the stems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tragopogon
- Species:
- pratensis
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant has been used to treat liver and gallbladder problems because it has a detoxifying effect and stimulates appetite and digestion. Syrups have been made from the root to treat coughs and bronchitis. The root is best harvested in the fall and dried for later use.
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Central Asia and Turkey
- Distribution:
- Native: Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Corsica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Northern European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Canada--Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan; Haiti; USA--AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WS, and WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and flies are attracted to the nectar of the flowers. Spittlebugs may be found on the foliage and stems.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Edibility:
- The roots of the plant have a sweet flavor. The older roots are best when cooked. Young leaves and shoots may be served raw in salads or cooked in soups. The leaves taste best in the spring. The flower stems may be cooked and served like asparagus.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The brown seeds or achenes are 1 to 1.5 inches long and are attached to a fluffy tannish-white pappus with feathery bristles. It appears to be a large dandelion plume and measures about 3 inches in diameter. The seeds are distributed by the wind, and the plant reseeds itself.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The solitary yellow flowerhead measures 1 to 2.5 inches in diameter and has 16-25 petal rays that form a floret. The outer florets are longer than the inner florets. Each of the florets has a truncated tip with 5 small teeth. The anthers are black. Eight green bracts surround the flower, and they are as long or shorter than the petals. The flowers bloom from May to August. The flower will open on sunny mornings and closes by noon to form a thin pod.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are grass-like blades and measure 12 inches long and 3/4 inches wide. They are green, alternate, and linear in shape. There is a powdery or waxy film on the undersides of the leaf blades. The leaves have sparse wooly hairs when they are young and are hairless as they mature. The leaves are coiled or curved at the tips. The leaves narrow near the base, taper to a pointed tip, and clasp the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The flower stem is hairless, erect, and has a powdery or waxy film. The cross-section of the stem is circular.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
