Dandelion has these other names too - did you know?

Alternative names

Hua Hua Lang, Pu Gong Cao, edible dandelion, bed-wetting grass, Western dandelion, Po Po Ding

Growth habit

It is a herbaceous perennial plant. The root is slightly conical, curved, 4-10 cm long, brown on the surface, wrinkled, with brown or yellowish-white hairs at the root head.

The leaves are obovate-lanceolate, oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-20 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, with a blunt or acute tip; the margins are sometimes wavy, sometimes runcinate-pinnatifid or lyrate-pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe larger, triangular or halberd-shaped, usually toothed, spreading or reflexed, with small teeth often interspersed between the lobes, and the base gradually narrowed into a petiole-like form. The petiole and main vein are often reddish-purple, sparsely covered with arachnoid white pubescence or nearly hairless.

There are 1 or more scapes, similar in length to the leaves, about 10-25 cm tall, purple-red in the upper part, with purplish-red stripes on the back of the marginal ligules, and dark green anthers and stigmas.

The achene is obovate-lanceolate, dark brown, about 4-5 mm long and about 1-1.5 mm wide, with small spines in the upper part and rows of small tubercles in the lower part, gradually narrowing at the apex into a 1 mm conical to cylindrical beak base. The flowering period is April-September, and the fruiting period is May-October.

Flower language

Dandelion flower language

It has a yellow flower full of vitality, and its flower language is "love that cannot stay".

Purple dandelion

A light purple dandelion, its flower language is "the legendary purple, attribute dark. Legend says whoever finds a purple dandelion will gain perfect love.

Please note: in fact, dandelions are not purple.

Autumn dandelion

The flowers contain abundant nectar, so whenever the flowering season arrives, bees swarm in. Therefore its flower language is "temptation".

Flying arrow dandelion

The dandelion named flying arrow has the flower language "aiming at the marble", attribute wind.

Dandelion's application value

1. Edible value. Dandelion can be eaten raw, stir-fried, made into soup, or dressed, with a unique flavor. Eaten raw: wash the tender fresh stems and leaves of dandelion, drain, and dip in sauce; it is slightly bitter, yet delicious, fragrant and refreshing. Cold dressed: blanch the washed dandelion in boiling water for 1 minute, drain, and rinse with cold water. Serve with chili oil, monosodium glutamate, salt, sesame oil, vinegar, mashed garlic, etc., or mix into side dishes with different flavors according to your own taste. As filling: wash the tender stems and leaves of dandelion, blanch in water, squeeze slightly, chop, and mix with seasonings to make filling (meat can also be added) for dumplings or steamed buns.

Dandelion has a very good dietary therapeutic effect. 1) Dandelion porridge: 30 grams of dandelion, 100 grams of japonica rice, cooked into porridge, can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules;

2) Dandelion, Yin Chen and red date soup: 50 grams of dandelion, 50 grams of Yin Chen, 10 red dates, 50 grams of white sugar, made into soup, is a first-class auxiliary therapeutic medicine for acute icteric hepatitis;

3) Dandelion and Platycodon soup: 60 grams of dandelion, 10 grams of Platycodon grandiflorus, a little white sugar, decocted together into soup, has a certain effect on carbuncles;

4) Dandelion and corn soup: 60 grams of dandelion, 60 grams of corn silk, add water and decoct in concentrated form for oral use or drink as tea, used to treat heat strangury and scanty dark urine.

2. Medicinal value. Dandelion is also called bed-wetting grass; the whole plant is used as medicine, and it has a very good effect on diuresis. It is rich in carotene, vitamin C and minerals, and has an improving effect on indigestion and constipation. In addition, the leaves also have a blood-purifying effect that improves eczema, soothes dermatitis, and relieves joint discomfort, while the root has an anti-inflammatory effect and can treat gallstones and rheumatism. However, it is still best not to use it without the guidance of a professional physician. The flowers decocted into medicinal juice can remove freckles. It can be said to be a very useful aromatic herb. For fresh dandelion, choose those with clean leaves and a slight fragrance; for dried dandelion, choose those that are grayish-green, free of impurities, and dry.

3. Dandelion tea. 75 grams of dried dandelion and 1000 milliliters of water can be made into tea for drinking. Wash the dandelion, put it in a pot, add water to cover the dandelion, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for one hour, filter out the tea residue, and drink after it cools. Dandelion tea is not suitable for people with yang deficiency and external cold, or weak spleen and stomach; excessive use can cause mild diarrhea.