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
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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.
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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)