Hypochoeris radicata - Cat's Ear

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.3
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and western Asia.

Hypochoeris radicata (Cat's Ear) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 5and is vunerable to frost.
Cat's Ear will flower in December to March. the seeds ripen from January to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies lepidoptera

Soil Information

Cat's Ear will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Cat's Ear prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Cat's Ear should not be planted in shady areas.

Dry pastures, open woods[5, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained soil and a sunny position or light shade. Another report says that it dislikes shade. A common lawn weed[24].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[5, 52, 53, 183]. A winter salad[100], it is rather bitter[K]. Young leaves are mild and agreeable[217].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Pectoral[100].

• Pectoral - Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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