Ontario Wildflowers website

Common Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Other common names: Blowball

Other scientific names: Leontodon taraxacum, Taraxacum dens-leonis, Taraxacum taraxacum, Taraxacum vulgare

French names: Pissenlit officinal

Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae)

Group: Dandelions

Similar species:
  •   Marsh Dandelion (Taraxacum palustre) - Sepals are not recurved downward.

  •   Red-seeded Dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum)


Flowers: Spring, Summer, Autumn;  Yellow;  7 or more parts (petals)

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas

Edible: The roots are edible, when dried and used as a coffee substitute. The young leaves are good salad and cooked greens.

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 362   

Native/Non-native: Non-native

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: officinale: of the shops


Photographs: 58 photographs available, of which 4 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flower

The flower head of Common Dandelion.

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) field of flowers

A field of Common Dandelion plants in bloom.

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Seed head forming.

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) seed head

The familiar fluffy seed head of Common Dandelion.


Range map for Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)