Krigia dandelion aka Colonial Dwarf Dandelion

Krigia dandelion is a small perennial in the aster family. Its common names include potato dandelion and potato dwarf dandelion. It comes from the central and eastern United States. Its range includes New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and Missouri. It grows throughout North Carolina, from coast to mountains. Wild plants grow in woods, fields, pastures, and roadside sites. These include oak-hickory woods with somewhat moist soil.

Plants form upright clumps about 0.33–1.67 feet (0.10–0.51 metres) tall. They spread through rhizomes and shallow stolons beneath the soil. Small tubers grow on these stolons and explain the potato name. Each tuber measures about 0.04 feet (0.013 metres) across. Green leaves form a rosette at the plant's base. They are smooth, hairless, and narrow, often with sharp tips. Their shapes range from linear to lanceolate or spoon-shaped. Leaf edges may be smooth, lobed, or sparsely toothed. The straight, round flower stems are green and leafless.

Flowers open from April through June, spanning spring and early summer. Each long stem holds one yellow to orange flower head. The heads measure about 0.04–0.17 feet (0.013–0.051 metres) across. The source's broader size category reaches 0.25 feet (0.076 metres). Each head has eight to thirteen rays with fringed tips. Long, narrow green bracts sit beneath the head. Flowers draw bees and other pollinators to the garden. The small brown fruits are achenes, with a roughly cylindrical shape. They have fine, blunt ribs and appear in fall.

Grow this plant in full sun or partial shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay with good drainage. It also tolerates acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils. Soil can stay moist or become dry from time to time. The listed hardiness range covers USDA zones 3 through 9. Growth is moderate, and upkeep needs are low. Sow seeds or divide clumps in spring or fall. Use it in meadows, natural areas, borders, or herb gardens.

Its spreading habit can make it weedy in planted spaces. Few major problems affect it, though wet soil can cause root rot. Powdery mildew may also occur. All parts are edible, including the small tubers. Eat the slightly bitter leaves raw or cooked. Flowers can go into salads or tea. Roasted roots can make a coffee-like drink. Despite these food uses, the milky stem sap can irritate sensitive skin.