Wildflowers of the United States

Hairy Cat's Ear, False Dandelion - Hypochaeris radicata

Genus Common Name: Cat's Ear

Native Status: Introduced

Hypochaeris radicata - Hairy Cat's Ear, False Dandelion. Yellow aster with blooms at the end of smooth stem, rising from a floret of hairy dandelion-like basal leaves. Other common names are common cat's-ear, false dandelion, frogbit, gosmore, and spotted catsear.

Distribution of Hypochaeris radicata in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-13	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Cat's Ear blossoms are similar to those in the genus Krigia and to the Hawkweeds (Hieracium.) All of these are similar to the dandelion, and False Dandelion is another of its common names.

Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-12	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The floret of hairy dandelion-like basal leaves is a key identifier for Hypochaeris radicata.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-12	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The photo shows the scale-like bracts on the blossom at the end of the smooth stem, but I like the little grasshopper even better.
Click on the photo for a larger image

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Hypochaeris radicata initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-07-14; Updated 2015-06-24

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
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Code Update 20230302