Spring leaf and flower season

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Its yellow clocks turn ordinary lawns into a lesson in persistence, pollinators and seasonal change.

Pressed botanical specimen of Dandelion

Season Window

15 Mar – 31 May

Lawns, meadows, roadside verges and open disturbed ground

Harvest

How we meet this plant

Pick leaves or flowers only from clean, unsprayed places and leave plenty of blooms for insects.

Preparation

At the kitchen table

Leaves and flowers have a long food tradition in salads, infusions and preserves.

Community Use

Why we teach it

A useful starting point for conversations about common plants and urban foraging.

Safety

Avoid if allergic to the daisy family; ask a clinician before medicinal use with gallbladder problems or medicines.