# chicory (*Cichorium intybus*) Chicory is a bright blue flower that grows in fields and along roads. Its pretty petals open up in the morning sun and close at night. People can use its leaves in salads or make a drink from its roots! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 158 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![chicory](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426445/objects/102.jpg) ## Appearance The chicory has striking sky-blue daisy-like flowers, often with jagged petals, that perch on stiff, branching stems. Its lance-shaped leaves grow mainly at the base, forming a rosette. These vibrant blossoms stand out in fields and roadsides. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Cichorium ## Interesting facts - Chicory flowers magically open in the morning light and close again by afternoon! - Its roasted roots can make a coffee-like drink, popular in some parts of the world! - People have enjoyed chicory as a vegetable and medicine for thousands of years! - You'll often spot bright blue chicory flowers bravely growing along sunny roadsides! ## Special abilities - **Sun Tracker:** Chicory's flowers follow the sun, opening in morning light and closing by afternoon, which helps maximize light exposure for pollinators. - **Root Reserve:** Chicory has a deep taproot that stores energy, helping it survive dry spells and quickly regrow. - **Bitter Defense:** Chicory leaves contain bitter compounds that deter some herbivores, protecting them from being eaten. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its blue flowers. - **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Browses on its leaves and young shoots. - **Eats:** Black bean aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Sucks sap from chicory stems and leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before picking or eating any wild plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify chicory? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is chicory? 30-150 cm ### How wide does chicory spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on chicory? 2-4 cm ### When does chicory bloom? Summer to fall ### Is chicory edible? Yes ### Is chicory toxic? None ### What is chicory's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Bishop Hill Colony](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bishop-hill-colony) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see chicory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/chicory) ## Watch - [Play video: chicory](https://www.snappit.app/videos/chicory) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=FoGi8ij7qRw) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Chicory: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chicory)