Chondrilla chondrilloides

Chondrilla chondrilloides is a small plant that lives for years. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its native range lies in Europe. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland. It gives Chondrilla prenanthoides as an older name. It also lists the old name Willemetia prenanthoides. Both names refer to this same plant in its account. Plants For A Future gives a height of about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. In the wild, it grows in river gravel. The sources give no spread or clear account of its shape.

Its flowers have both male and female organs. Plants For A Future says insects pollinate the flowers. The supplied records give no season for the blooms. They give no details of flower colour or fruit. Nor do they describe the stems or leaf shape. Leaves are the only part listed for food use. Plants For A Future records people eating them raw and cooked. It gives food use a low score: one out of five.

Good drainage is the clearest guide to its needs. Plants For A Future lists sand and loam as suitable soils. It says this plant likes lime and needs alkaline soil. The plant can grow in strongly alkaline soil too. Choose an open site with sun, not shade. The source lists both dry and moist soil as suitable. It suggests light soil based on the plant’s wild home. This is a view drawn from its habitat, not growing trials.

Plants For A Future lists garden beds as a setting. Its small size makes it a low-growing plant for these beds. The account leaves its hardiness in Britain in doubt. It suggests the plant may grow outdoors across much of Britain. This view rests on the plant’s native range. The source gives no tested cold limit or hardiness zone. The supplied evidence gives no details of pests or disease.

The seed-growing advice is tentative, not tested on this species. Plants For A Future suggests sowing under glass in early spring. Give the seed just a light cover of soil. Pot up seedlings once they are large enough to handle. The suggested method keeps young plants under glass for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, once frost risk ends. The source records no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. It lists no known uses as medicine or for other purposes.