# common dandelion (*Taraxacum officinale*) The common dandelion is a bright yellow flower that grows in many places. Its fluffy seed heads are fun to blow and make wishes on! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 34 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Taraxacum ![common dandelion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Maskros_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maskros_2.jpg) ## Appearance The common dandelion has a bright yellow, solitary flower head atop a hollow, leafless stem. Its deeply lobed, toothy green leaves form a basal rosette, growing flat against the ground. Later, it forms a spherical puffball of white, parachute-like seeds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Taraxacum ## Interesting facts - Dandelion leaves help scientists know about air pollution by absorbing it! - Every yellow 'petal' is actually a tiny flower, making one big bloom! - Its tough taproot can grow over a foot deep, reaching hidden water! - The name 'dandelion' means 'lion's tooth' because of its jagged leaves! ## Special abilities - **Amazing Roots:** Common dandelion can regrow its entire plant from just a tiny piece of its deep taproot, helping it survive being pulled. - **Parachute Seeds:** Common dandelion has fluffy, parachute-like seeds that catch the wind, helping it spread far and wide. - **Clone Power:** Common dandelion can produce seeds without needing pollination, creating exact copies of itself to quickly spread. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Its early flowers provide vital nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Domestic Sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Sheep enjoy grazing on its nutritious leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — An essential early spring food source for many bees. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before picking flowers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common dandelion? 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 common dandelion? 5-40 cm ### How wide does common dandelion spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on common dandelion? 2-5 cm ### When does common dandelion bloom? Spring to Fall ### Is common dandelion edible? Yes ### Is common dandelion toxic? None ### What is common dandelion's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Chicken Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-ridge-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District [View all places to see common dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-dandelion) ## 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: [Common Dandelion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dandelion)