Plant of the Month

The bright yellow Dandelion is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, making bees and other insects very happy. Most gardeners are far from happy when these plants show up in their garden. “Pests!” “Weeds!” they say. 

What’s a WEED, anyway? Weeds are plants that grow with gusto, spread out all over the place and sometimes take over by “squeezing” other plants out.

So…dandelions could be called weeds, this is true, but there are plenty of reasons to love the dandelion. It’s a really smart plant. Check it out and see for yourself!

The dandelion’s name comes from the French “dent de lion”, meaning ‘lion’s tooth’. The edges of the leaves are jagged looking like sharp teeth. They start out from the same point at the base, growing in what is called a rosette pattern. They are smooth on both sides and deep green. They’re also just loaded with nutrition! Give them a try! The smaller, newer ones are very tasty. But ALWAYS ask a grown-up before you pop anything in your mouth that grows out here in nature! Some things may look good but can be very bad for you.

The dandelion flower is really made up of many tiny flowers called florets. This is called a ‘Composite Flower’. The flower blooms for several days to make sure bees and other insects pollinate it. It closes at night and when it rains, too. Once the flower has been fertilized, or pollinated, it closes for the last time. The stem is hollow like a tube with a milky stuff inside, and it’s wider at the base than the top. After pollination it starts to grow taller so it can reach high up in the air above the rest of the plant.

Little green leaves called bracts protect the closed flower. Lots of things go on inside. The yellow petals wither and disappear. Seeds start to form and a thin stem is attached to each one. At the tip of every stem is a circle of fine hairs which turn into a little parachute. When it’s all ready and the weather is dry, the seed head opens into a perfect round puffball. Then with the help of the wind, the seeds can blow far away. Smart plant, right? Imagine how many new dandelion plants can come from just ONE flower!

Almost all plants have a root system. Roots suck up moisture and nutrients from the soil. They keep plants from blowing around or being washed away.

The root of a dandelion grows straight down in one long piece. It’s called a taproot.

The unhappy gardener who wants to get rid of the plant, must make sure to get the entire root. Because if just one tiny piece is left in the ground it can grow an entire new plant!

The root is also edible. You can practically eat the whole plant! Leaves for salad, roasted roots for main course and a few sips of dandelion tea make a nice meal. And then, if you want to dress up for dinner, you can wear a dandelion-chain with flowers. Amazing! And this they call a WEED!!