The Madman Finds A Dandelion

Spring is definitely here. The madman has found his first Dandelion. You would think that he would learn to live with them by now. But he is thinking of puff balls all over the lawn. While I’m thinking of fresh greens for salads.

It’s all in how you look at the plants. The dandelion has been around for a very long time. It grows on almost every continent and thrives under a variety of conditions. Children love the cheery yellow blooms because it is the only flower they can pick with reckless abandon.

An Important Plant

Everyone used to love the dandelion. In ancient times, the plant which is thought to have originated somewhere in Eurasia, was well known around the Mediterranean. Ancient physicians from Greece, Rome and Egypt used the Dandelions to treat a variety of medical conditions. In China and India, the Dandelion was used to treat liver diseases and digestive problems. Even the English used the Dandelions to ward off scurvy. Rumor has it that the Dandelion came to America on the Mayflower – not as a stowaway, but as a plant important to the colonists.

When the Dandelion was a well-behaved green in the colonial garden, everyone loved it. Its early blooms provided nectar for pollinators – especially the bees. Our ancestors used the same blooms for wine, teas and dyes. Dandelion wine was a favorite to relieve digestive problems.

Dandelions Cured Everything

In fact, people used every part of the plant. Although Dandelions were sometimes eaten fresh, their real value came from the ability to cure a variety of common ailments. Every herbalist from John Gerard on praised the properties of the Dandelion. People used it to treat every condition under the sun – from baldness to warts, from lethargy to depression.

People picked the flowers, stripped the leaves and dug up the roots to create a variety of poultices and teas. I suspect that when people used every part of the plant, no one considered it the weed it is today. They picked the flowers before they could seed and dug up the taproot before it could spread. But, still, the plant’s adaptability proved its undoing. It readily colonized disturbed areas such as roadsides, fields and meadows.

Then Came The Lawns

The final nail in the Dandelion’s coffin was the concept of the Great American Lawn. You know, that large expanse of green that homeowners strive for. No one welcomes the bright yellow flowers of the Dandelion. And that large puff ball strikes fear in the hearts of lawn people.

Celebrating Dandelion’s Day

Let’s back up a bit and talk about the Dandelion. After all, tomorrow, April 5, is National Dandelion Day and we should all be celebrating. Interestingly, no person or organization actually takes credit for the idea of Dandelion Day, but it is still celebrated.

As we’ve said, the plant comes from Eurasia. Actually there are two species of Dandelions – Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Red Seeded Dandelion (Taraxacum erythrospermum). Both belong to the family Asteraceae, making them cousins of Daisies and Asters. The main difference between the two Dandelion plants is in the color of the seeds. Those of T. erthrospermum are much redder. Both species have jagged leaves which is why they are referred to as “Dente-de-Lion”, the lion’s tooth.

Let’s Look At Dandelions

You all know what a Dandelion looks like. But, have you ever really examined the plant? Although it prefers full sun, this perennial plant is very adaptable and can grow just about any place – including in cracks in the pavement. Its taproot extends between 6-18” into the ground making it difficult to dig up. If the root is cut too near the soil surface, it can regenerate. The plant has no true stem. Instead, the leaves form a rosette near the base of the plant.

Botanists describe the flower as a compound inflorescence that can contain as many as 300 ray flowers. Each flower has a single yellow petal. Although bees love the nectar, the Dandelion doesn’t need the bees. The Dandelion produces seed asexually and it produces a lot of them. Flowering throughout the season, each plant can produce 20,000 seeds. Multiply that by all the yellow flowers in your yard and you will understand why the madman’s head is hurting.

Seeds Are Made For Traveling

Each seed attaches to a parachute-like structure called a papus which faces outwards creating the classic puff ball. The papus allows the seeds to travel over long distances. Some say they can travel for miles. The seeds will germinate any time the soil temperature is above 50˚, but they germinate best when it’s above 70˚. And, if you need more bad news, they germinate better in light than in dark.

Dandelion Control

But, what I bet you really want to know is how to get rid of them. The short answer is, “you can’t” – you are much better learning to tolerate small numbers of them. Remember, because of all the good stuff they contain, you might want to consider finding some good recipes to use them. But, if you still dislike the dandelions as much as the madman, here’s what he does.

Early in the spring, he digs up as many as he can. His tool of choice is the hori hori knife while I prefer a forked tool from his mother’s collection of old gardening tools. He hopes we dig down deep enough to get most of the taproot. The madman refuses to use Roundup or any other herbicide because of potentially bad side effects, both to people and the eco-system.

Keep Your Lawn High

The madman also leaves the lawn height at 3-4” hoping to keep the grass healthy and the ground shaded to deter unwanted germination. And he doesn’t allow anyone to make a wish on a puff ball he has missed. Over time, we haven’t removed all the Dandelions, but we have controlled their numbers. The madman has a bit of good news as we head toward National Dandelion Day on April 5. The soil temperature is above 50° and the Forsythia is beginning to bloom – it’s time to plant the peas!

Guess we’ll celebrate the day with a cup of hot cocoa.