Cichorium Species, Chicory, Italian Dandelion, Radicchio, Succory, Witloof
Cichorium intybus
Family: | Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Cichorium (sik-KOR-ee-um) (Info) |
Species: | intybus (IN-tye-bus) (Info) |

Category:
Biennials
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Dark Blue
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Ponca, Arkansas
Chula Vista, California
Emeryville, California
Hercules, California
Menifee, California(2 reports)
Merced, California
San Bernardino, California
Bailey, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Keystone Heights, Florida
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Mount Prospect, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Macy, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Warren, Indiana
Iowa City, Iowa
Neola, Iowa
Benton, Kentucky
Calvert City, Kentucky
Harned, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Melbourne, Kentucky
Skowhegan, Maine
Baltimore, Maryland
Brookeville, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Earleville, Maryland
Oakland, Maryland
Halifax, Massachusetts
Woburn, Massachusetts
Erie, Michigan
Jordan, Minnesota
Shevlin, Minnesota
Cole Camp, Missouri
Forsyth, Missouri
Collingswood, New Jersey
Middlesex, New Jersey
Ogdensburg, New York
Panama, New York
Sodus, New York
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Akron, Ohio
Bucyrus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Glenmont, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Guysville, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
Lebanon, Ohio
Pocola, Oklahoma
Salem, Oregon
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Milford, Pennsylvania
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Valencia, Pennsylvania
Conway, South Carolina
York, South Carolina
Madison, Tennessee
Garland, Texas
Martindale, Texas
Blacksburg, Virginia(2 reports)
Bluefield, Virginia
Floyd, Virginia
Palmyra, Virginia
Kalama, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Liberty, West Virginia
Merrimac, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On Aug 13, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: On rare occasions, I've seen plants with white flowers, and others with pinkish flowers. |
Neutral | On Aug 12, 2016, Eravette from New Tripoli, PA wrote: Here in eastern Pennsylvania, it grows everywhere. I'd say it is moderately invasive, but as others have said, it is pretty - if you get up in the morning. By noon or 1 p.m it closes up just like a morning glory, and opens new blossoms randomly along the stem. They don't make a good cut flower because they do bloom randomly all along the stem. The foliage is nothing special either, but the periwinkle blue flower heads are lovely. I would not put it in my garden, and I happily mow down the ones on my lawn, but I still have them wherever I can't reach the grass, along the road, etc. The nice thing about them is they are really tough, and if you do grow them, they're like echinacea, black-eyed susan, etc. needing no care at all. Like Topsy - they "just growed" there. |
Positive | On Jul 31, 2014, kayshenoy from Lexington, KY wrote: We have an empty plot in front of our house and it is filled with chicory. The field of blue flowers is so pretty. I want to try to grow it in my garden. |
Neutral | On Aug 8, 2010, CaptMicha from Brookeville, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Chicory has naturalized it's self here in Maryland, like it has in other parts of the United States. It hails from Eurasia but is a common sight alongside roads, ditches, and abandoned areas here. It also pops up in lawns, as it has down along my drive. It never spreads aggressively or really out-competes anything. I never find it in any flower beds. |
Positive | On Jul 28, 2009, liondandy from chilliwack, british columbia, The blue flower, chicory, or italian dandelion, grows profusely on roadsides in chilliwack, b.c., and a little more than an hour ago I chatted with brian minter about it. i had had to drive 60 miles away to get the seed, since minter gardens didn't have it. and why should they, since it grows a riot in this town. i want to propagate it adjacent my white trailer in white shaded, concrete square pots alongside scabiosa for a mauve effect alongside a bird bath that will show off an amethyst quartzite formation embedded in tumbled river rock. don't get any delusions. i am NOT a gardener... |
Neutral | On Sep 10, 2008, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote: The Cichorium intybus flowers are predominately blue or lavender, but occasionally there will be some white flowers. |
Positive | On Sep 9, 2008, Kathleen from Panama, NY (Zone 5a) wrote: I have always known the blue chicory, but this year found some white growing in the ditch down by the field that we planted millet in. very pretty in white as well as the blue. |
Positive | On Jul 16, 2008, Trixtar from Muncie, IN wrote: Good thing that I like Chicory, because it grows naturally all over my yard. I have never sown this plant, but anywhere that I do not run the lawn mower or weed-eater, I have more than enough of them. At first I thought they were some form of Lactuca and had considered chopping them down. I am glad that I didn't now, because the blue flowers really add some color to the landscape. It's lanky stems and Lactuca like foliage are not the most attractive sight, but the flowers make up for that. Seems to grow best in untilled high clay content soil around naturally occuring Lactucas, Mullein, and Sassafras. |
Neutral | On Jun 3, 2008, donicaben from Ogdensburg, NY wrote: Too funny! Here I go and buy a mix of herb seeds and get all excited about "chicory"...this stuff grew WILD in the ditch in front of my house growing up! |
Positive | On Aug 31, 2007, Edviinss from Liepaja, I found in nature Cichorium intybus with white flowers, much better than with blue flowers, really ornamental plant, long flowering period July to September. |
Positive | On Aug 30, 2007, Chesler from Woburn, MA wrote: I'm told the wild examples I see along roadways and sidewalks are escapees from gardens. I haven't had good luck getting it to start from seed, but it comes where it wants to. A neighbor says it is a weed, because he didn't plant it; I figure it's a gift. He cuts it down and it comes back anyway. |
Positive | On Jan 29, 2005, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: A cheerful little weed that grows along the roadways and in vacant lots. It seems to prefer the hard packed ground for some reason. |
Positive | On Nov 9, 2004, IslandJim from Keizer, OR (Zone 8b) wrote: This plant does not grow in my current neighborhood but it grows wild in every other place I've ever live in this country. It's not invasive in the strict meaning of the definition, but it is naturalized. And, to my thinking, a welcome citizen it is. The ice blue of the flowers--which die everyday at midday--is unmatched in the plant kingdom for clarity. It is an absolutely beautiful flower. |
Neutral | On Mar 6, 2004, wnstarr from Puyallup, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: Edgewood, Washington |
Neutral | On Jan 12, 2004, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote: I have never grown this plant, but I was raised on the Gulf of Mexico, and my Mother was from South Louisiana, and every morning she made coffee with chicory, just as her parents had, in a drip coffee pot, and it was a vile liquid that was almost thick enough to stand a spoon up in. |
Neutral | On Jan 11, 2004, deloit from Omaha, NE wrote: I was not aware of this plant until I saw it growing wild on the edge of our local park. I like the blue color and have collected some seeds with hopes to try to start a plant or two. Any suggestions? BobM |
Neutral | On Oct 5, 2001, Sis wrote: HARVESTING/STORING: Use leaves fresh in salads or cook like spinach. Chicory does not dry or freeze well. Collect the roots in fall, and dry and grind them for a coffee substitute. |