Tragopogon dubius aka Goatsbeard

Tragopogon dubius, or yellow salsify, belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its native range runs from Europe to Xinjiang and the Himalaya. Kew places it in the temperate biome and lists it as a biennial. Plants For A Future instead describes an annual or perennial life cycle. The sources thus differ on how long it lives. The RHS records that it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future gives a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. It does not give a mature spread or describe the plant's branching. Its root is fleshy, and its lower leaves have edible bases. The supplied species account gives no further leaf or stem details. It records flowers in May but does not describe their colour or shape. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry out pollination. The evidence gives no species-level account of the fruit.

Yellow salsify grows in fields within its Turkish range. Plants For A Future also lists it for cultivated beds. It accepts sandy soils, loam, and clay, including heavy clay. Good drainage suits it, while the soil should stay moist. It grows across mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. It needs an open site, since the account rules out shade. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8 and says frost does not harm it. These traits allow a range of garden soils and climates.

The edible root can be eaten raw or cooked. Young stems and the bases of lower leaves are also edible. Harvest stems when roughly 0.16–0.33 feet [0.05–0.10 metres] tall. These parts can be cooked as greens or eaten raw. Plants For A Future gives its food value three out of five. It lists no known medicinal uses or other uses. The supplied evidence does not establish a specific ornamental role.

Sow seed in spring where the plants will grow. Water after sowing when the weather is dry. Plants For A Future flags weed potential but gives no severity. The supplied accounts name no pests or diseases. They also provide no detailed safety assessment for people or pets. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards; that is not proof of safety in every setting.