Dandelion

A noxious weed or a health food?

Dandelion: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Weed Appreciation Day on March 28th each year reminds us that some weeds are beneficial to us and our ecosystem. Dandelion is a case in point.

Weed

Dandelion is a simple perennial. Plants emerge from seed and the root becomes a perennial taproot system that persists over the winter. My old copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book says that it a weed in lawns and flower beds.  But, it also notes that tender leaves can be used as a salad and that thick leaves can be boiled like collards. 

These plants are both fast growing and incredibly hardy. They can spread both by seeds and by new shoots from roots or root segments. The seeds are easily blown around by wind and will quickly spread into adjoining downwind areas. Many of us have spent countless hours trying to control them by hand weeding or the application of herbicides, believing that they mar an otherwise pristine lawn.  

However, they are also grown by home gardeners and even cultivated commercially. 

Health Food

Dandelion greens are a good source of vitamins and minerals such as:

• Vitamins A, C and K.
• Folate.
• Calcium.
• Potassium

Also, note that the dandelion botanical name “Taraxacum officinale” speaks for its usefulness and refers to the healing effect. Namely, ‘Taraxacum’ comes from the Greek and means ‘anti-inflammatory’ and ‘officinale’ refers to the common name for herbs.

Many cultures have long used dandelions to treat a variety of ailments such as tonsillitis, bladder infections, upset stomach, constipation, and, arthritis pain.  This is a link to other dandelion uses.

Friend or Foe?

I am making my peace with the plant, though my neighbors might have some concerns. I think that the flowers are pretty and the plant is also useful to many of the invertebrates that I support.