Taraxacum variegatum

Taraxacum variegatum belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is a perennial, a plant that lives for years. It comes from the southern Russian Far East to northeastern China. Kew places it in a temperate climate zone. Plants For A Future (PFAF) also calls it a perennial. The sources give no height or spread at full size. They say little about its leaves, stems, or overall shape. PFAF does not know its exact habitat in the wild.

Each flower has both male and female organs. PFAF says insects pollinate the plant. It also calls the plant self-fertile: it can fertilise itself. The evidence gives no flower colour or bloom season. Nor does it describe the fruit of this species. Elsewhere, PFAF discusses seeds formed without sex. That part covers the genus, not just this species. It does not show how this plant forms its seeds.

PFAF lists sand, loam, and clay as soils it can use. It says the plant prefers moist soil that drains well. The stated pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. The plant can grow in sun or light shade. PFAF lists garden beds as a place to grow it. It gives no confirmed rating for cold tolerance in Britain. The authors think its native range may suggest it survives outdoors. They stress that this is an estimate, not a tested limit.

PFAF says to sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Leave seed on the surface or add a thin cover. Keep the compost moist while the seeds sprout. The account says to expect this in about two weeks. Move seedlings to their own pots when large enough to handle. Deep pots give the tap root room to grow. The same source says to plant them outside in early summer. It also lists division in early spring, as growth starts.

Records list the leaves as food, either raw or cooked. PFAF gives the plant a low score for food use. It suggests other edible parts but lacks confirmed records for this species. The page also lists past uses to treat illness, including serious illness. These reports do not prove that such treatments work or are safe. PFAF lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The sources name no pests or diseases. They give no detailed account of its value in the landscape.