huge dandelion in seed
Yep, I kid you not — giant dandelions have invaded the gardens. Well, they go by several names, as well, including salsify and goat’s beard, but the big white fluffy seedheads look like dandelions… only larger!
They started out innocent enough — pretty little yellow flowers.
yellow salsify flower
After blooming, the green leaves of the flower close up, allowing the seeds to develop.
huge dandelion after blooming
Then the green leaves open…
Leaving large, fluffy balls of seed umbrells, like the dandelion. – Stacey Morgan Smith
huge dandelion in seed
Ive got them too in Richmond North Yorkshire. Uk .
Julie, thanks for letting me know how widespread they are! Thanks for stopping by!
We have those giant balls also down here in Berryville Arkansas/ wow
I guess they’re also called salsify. Always leaning something new! Thanks for stopping by.
I just had one pop up in my yard. Utah
We get a lot of them each year!
Just saw this for first time here in Portland Oregon. Very beautiful.
I see a few each year. I really love them!
I have one in my garden. I’m near buffalo NY
Thanks for letting me know! Interesting to see how far it spreads. Thanks for stopping by!
I have seen a few over the past few years here in Pittsburgh, PA
We had quite a few this year. Thanks for stopping by!
I have them in Parma, Ohio, near Cleveland. I love how the seeds shimmer in the sun!
I found some here in Pepperell MA.
Found here in Kansas
They’re all over the place out here in Minnesota! Thank you for identifying them for me.
They grow in Edmonton, Alberta, too. Just today learnt they’re salsfy. Always knew of them as goat’s beard.
Quite common in Central Oregon; Bend, OR and surrounding areas. And, we’re at ~3800 feet. They pull easily. But, they look like ordinary grass before shooting up and blooming, then seeding within a day or two. That is, several or more days in the grass stage. Then long stalks becoming a flower and then to seed within a day or two. Tragopogon Salsify.
I saw some in Saskatchewan, Canada this year that someone had cut, then spray painted each one a different colour. they look beautiful. I’m trying to find out what kind of spray paint to use. The paint seems to keep them stronger and from falling apart.
I absolutely love these. I first encountered them on I-70 driving west from St Louis to Kansas City in the summer of 1967. Didn’t see another one until I lived in Rochester, Minnesota and discovered them there in 1987. Moved to north eastern Vermont and found a very few there. Now I live in southern Arizona and have not seen a one. I miss them.
Have them in my flower garden. They’re so pretty. We’re in central Indiana.