Mendel’s Gardens

Taraxacum officinale

Common Dandelion · Dandelion

Family AsteraceaeGenus Taraxacum

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Low severity. Taraxinic acid.

The plant

Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.5 ftPLANTS Database
Flower
YellowPLANTS Database
Blooms
Early SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Canada, Greenland, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Note
Deno's own verdict on the species: "But who wants to grow dandelions."Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: Medium
Moisture
Moisture use: Medium

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 2, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

90% germination in 4–5 days.

The best of four. Six months dry at 40, then sow warm.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 31, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

76% germination in 3–5 days.

Fresh seed sown warm: 76%, most of it inside a week.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

53% germination.

Six months dry at 70 costs it a third of the germination, against 90% for seed stored at 40.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    15% came up here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 2%.

about 3 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

15% germination.

15% in the cold and 2% after it. Sowing this one cold is simply worse.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TaraxacumPublic domain
Show the original text
Taraxacum (Asteraceae). T. off icinale germ. 70(76% largely in 3-5 d) for fresh seed, 70(90% in 4-5 d) for seed DS 6 m at 40, and 70(53%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. Germination was much lower for seed sown at 40. Typical is 40(15%)-70(2%) for fresh seed. But who wants to grow dandelions.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Taraxacum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.