The end of April heralds the appearance of one of our most loved and sometimes despised (by immaculate lawn lovers) native wild flowers. Dandelion officinale has up to two hundred and thirty five micro species all placed under the Taraxacum officinale name. Equally numerous are all the common names this showy perennial has, vary regionally and within a region. We (I) am probably one of the last generations to grow up knowing this plant as pee-the-beds and if someone put it in your hand you would pee the bed, an idea that forms many of the local common names, including 'Wet-the-bed' and 'Tiddle-beds'.
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Some of the other common names, pissabed refer to the plant’s diuretic properties. Other Scottish names include witch gowan, doon-head clock, bumming pipe. The plant’s scientific name Taraxacum is
probably from the Arabic word ‘tarakhshagog’ meaning bitter herb and officinale refers to its medicinal, herbal and culinary use. The word dandelion is late Middle English in origin, derived from the French dent-de-lion, ‘lion’s tooth’ (because of the jagged shape of the leaves).
The leaves can be eaten as a salad leaf and the flowers made into dandelion wine. But perhaps this humble plant’s best use is as an early source of nectar for bees. In the world we now inhabit, it is so important to leave as many flowers ar possible for our insect friends. After the first burst of flowers in spring the plant can flower on and off through the year. Once the flowers are done the beautiful complex dandelion “clocks” appear, we’ve all blown them to see what time it is as children.
Dandelions also improve the soil as their long, deep taproot penetrates compacted soil, creating channels that allow water and air to circulate, improving soil structure. The taproot extracts nutrients like calcium, potassium, and magnesium from deep soil, and when the plant dies, these nutrients are returned to the upper soil layers, making them more available to other plants.
Truly a plant for children and insects and also for adults, enjoy that glorious yellow, see the bees busy filling their pollen pouches then pick off the flowers once they are finished if you don’t want them to spread.
The humble beautiful pee-the-bed deserves a place in the garden. Ours are in the wild grass in the orchard in the nursery and we can see them even from right at the other end of the sales area when they are in flower.
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| Taraxicum pseudoroseum |
In amongst the yellows is the intriguing Taraxicum pseudoroseum, a pink and white species, look for it in the woodland garden when you visit.
David brought me flowers, I think he was having a Van Gogh moment,
fortunately he still has two ears 
and I did a tour for the Forth Community Resource Centre. Do I feel I'm catching up? Absolutely not. Isabel was in today and together we got plenty done and then we start all over again tomorrow.
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