No, it is a different species with branched stems.

How do I get rid of it?

Dig out the entire taproot to prevent regrowth.

Plant guide

Catsear.

Hypochaeris radicata

Pronounced hy-po-KEE-ris ra-di-KAH-tah

Also known as Cat's Ear, Cat's-Ear, Catsear, Common Cat's Ear, Common Cat's-ear, Common Catsear, Dandelion, Deep-rooted Catsear

Hypochaeris radicata — Photo by Brian Starzomski (CC0) via gbif

Catsear is a hardy perennial often mistaken for a dandelion because of its yellow flowers. It thrives in lawns and disturbed soil across many regions. You'll find it forms a low rosette of hairy leaves that stay close to the ground.

Another photo of catsear — Photo by Douglas Goldman (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to autumn

Care

This plant is quite tough and rarely needs human intervention. Watch for it crowding out your desired lawn grasses if you want a pristine yard. It handles drought well once established.

Watering: Water only during extended dry spells as it is quite drought tolerant.
Feeding: Fertilizing is not necessary for this plant.
Pruning: Remove flower heads before they seed if you want to limit its spread.
Repotting: It is rarely grown in containers, but repot if the taproot becomes cramped.
Soil: Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
Temperature: -34 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 80%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 2 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite regular care.

Safety

People: It is not considered toxic to humans, but it is not a common food source.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: There are no specific safety concerns for children, though ingestion of any wild plant should be discouraged.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The windborne seeds and pollen can trigger mild allergic reactions in some people.
Edibility: While the leaves are edible, they can be quite hairy and bitter, and consumption is not recommended due to potential confusion with toxic lookalikes.

How to identify it

Basal rosette of hairy leaves
Yellow dandelion like flower heads
Leafless branched flowering stems
Deep taproot system

Height: 0.1 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: brown, Summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

RustCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
AphidsUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon
DehydrationRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your catsear from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant remains as a low rosette of leaves through winter in mild climates. No special protection is needed.
In containers: It is not typically grown in containers as it is considered a weed.

Seed

1. Collect mature seeds from the flower head.
2. Scatter seeds on bare soil in spring.
3. Keep the area moist until germination.

This plant is generally considered a weed and is best kept out of intentional garden beds.

Grows well with

White Clover · They often grow together in managed lawns.
English Daisy · They share similar soil and light requirements.

Similar species

Dandelion · It has a similar yellow flower but lacks branched stems.
Hawkbit · It looks very similar but has different seed structures.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Hypochaeris
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of North Africa and Western Asia.
Conservation: It is considered a widespread weed and is not of conservation concern.

It survives in the wild by producing deep taproots that allow it to persist through drought and grazing.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, wildlife garden

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a dandelion?: No, it is a different species with branched stems.
How do I get rid of it?: Dig out the entire taproot to prevent regrowth.

Where the name comes from

The name Hypochaeris comes from Greek for pig and delight, suggesting pigs enjoy the roots, while radicata refers to its prominent root system.

Good to know

It is commonly known as catsear.
The taproot can grow quite deep, making it hard to pull out.
It thrives in disturbed soil.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your catsear growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.