Note from the Author: This is an update on a weed I covered on April 14th 2022 and briefly on February 23rd 2024.
The head, the tail, the whole damn thing! 
This is the uprooted specimen from above, note the lobes on the leaves and the beginnings of a flowering stalk. 
This is a specimen that is starting to to put out a flower stalk, it's growing flat so it doesn't get mowed though.
Common Name: Carolina Desert Chicory
Other Common Names: False Dandelion, Texas Dandelion.
Botanical Family: Asteraceae (The Aster Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Description & Habitat: Despite its name Carolina Desert Chicory is not a Chicory (Chincorium sp.), and its other common names are wrong too as it isn’t a Dandelion (Taraxicum sp.). Carolina Desert Chicory (or C.D.C. for short) is a native annual member of the aster family which means it’s related but not quite the same. It is commonly found in yards, pastures, lawn areas, parks and by the roadside and is originally endemic to the southeast section of the United States hence the specific epithet ‘carolinianus’. Carolinianus means of the Carolinas or from Carolina so there is no doubt where this plant was first located and identified. The first of this plant’s name is an amalgamation of two Latin words, Pyrrho and Pappus, the latter meaning ‘Fluff’ which refers to the silky parachutes the seeds have. The former Latin word’s meaning goes back to ‘Pyrrhos’ which means fiery or red colors referring to the bright color of the sepals in the flower. CDC’s are generally listed in guide books as an annual however certain conditions can cause this plant to be a winter annual or act like a biennial. The growing habit of CDC is considered upright with leaves emerging from a central rosette that lacks visible stems. The leaves can be lobed but in the studied population often are barely lobed at all. The genetic diversity here is very pronounced as a roundly lobed specimen can be mere feet from one with no real discernable lobes at all. In general the leaves are roughly shaped like that of a Dandelion, minus the sharply angular lobes in the margins. Leaves attached to the flowering stalk of this plant become alternate in arrangement and the flowers are a bright yellow color but may also be white (rare) or an orange-yellow color as well. As seen in the included picture this plant can produce an impressive taproot. In some older publications this native member of the Aster family is listed as Pyrrhopappus carolinianus var. georgianus, Borkhausia caroliniana, Pyrrhopappus georgianus and, Sitilias caroliniana
When & What to Harvest: The leaves, taproot, stems and flowers are all known to be safely edible. However you want to harvest the Taproot in fall if possible as it will be sweeter to the taste than other times of the year. The leaves can be eaten whenever but as with all rosette forming plants make sure to thoroughly inspect and wash them so all bugs and debris are removed. The flowers of this plant make for good components in making wine or beer as well as floral confections.
Edible Related Plants: In the southeast you are likely to encounter several Aster family relatives that are often mistaken for Dandelions such as Cat’s Ear Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata), Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Asiatic Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica), Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), Prickly Lettuce (L. serriola), Tall Lettuce (L. canadensis), Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and Prickly Sow Thistle (S. asper).
Similar Dangerous Species: There are none that I was able to locate.
Recipe:
There is no formal recipe for candying wild flowers but here’s a general method I use specifically for Dandelion and other similar edible flowers. Firstly you will need a baking tray lined with parchment paper or non-stick foil and possibly a food safe kitchen brush. Firstly harvest what flowers you intend to use, then gently wash them and remove all green parts (if any kind of dandelion), then gently pat dry them. Depending on the amount of flowers you are planning to candy, have at least ¼ cup of Caster or, Powdered Sugar** ready to put on the flowers. Crack one egg* and remove the yolk, you need the whites for the next step. The next step can be done one of two ways***; either pour a little bit of the sugar on a plate then paint each blossom with the brush using the egg whites then roll each painted one around in the sugar until completely coated. Put each sugared blossom on the baking tray, you can wait a day or so based on humidity for these to dry normally or put them in the oven at about 75-100 degrees until they are dried which may only take a few minutes to a half hour depending on the oven. Store the candies in an airtight container or they will start to grow mold.
Alternates
*If you don’t like using raw egg, alternate options are Aquafaba (the juice from cooked or canned chickpeas), Powdered Meringue, or any baking protein substitute, the eggs are just a sticking agent here and are not absolutely needed. Salmonella is no joke, hospital visits aren’t cheap either and I don’t want any of you getting sick.
** If you do not have Caster or powdered sugar, you can take regular sugar and run it through a coffee grinder or food processor for 45 seconds or so to make a good substitute. I do not suggest using honey, agave nectar or any ‘wet’ sweetener as they can accelerate bacterial growth.
*** The alternate way to do this is to put the powdered sugar in a Ziplock bag and then add the egged flowers in and gently toss the mix to get them coated in sugar. After you are done you should not re-use the sugar in the bag nor go outside your house with it…think of the children!
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php?id=559
Where to get seed or Bare Root Plants:
-I could not find any credible vendor who sells these seeds.
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.
Fresh Foods:
Soup Kit – Parsnip
Soup Kit – Turnip
Turnips
Parsnips
Onions
Celery
Potatoes
Garlic Bulbs
Oyster Mushrooms
Soil Amendment Products:
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Enhanced Potting Soil – 1 Gallon Bag
Houseplants:
Abutilon
Aloe, American
Begonia, Sindbad
Cuban Oregano, Large Leaf
Hoan Ngoc
Pothos, Cebu Blue
Rose Campion
Solanum uleanum
Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing
Swiss Cheese Plant
*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (1): Winter 2025
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is February 15th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
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