Chicory
Cichorium intybus
Also listed as Cichorium rigidum, Cichorium sylvestre
Also known as Wild Chicory, Common Chicory, Blue Weed
Climate Match for your location
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Chicory is a hardy perennial with attractive bright blue flowers and a deep taproot, commonly grown for its edible leaves and roots. It tolerates poor soils and drought once established, making it valuable for both culinary and medicinal uses.
Why grow it
Chicory outperforms many leafy greens on marginal land, establishing deep roots that break compacted soil while tolerating neglect better than cultivated lettuce or endive. Its dual harvest potential (leaves for salad or cooking, roots for roasting or forcing blanched chicons) makes efficient use of garden space. The plant also serves as a reliable nectar source for pollinators across a long bloom window, and its bitter compounds support digestive health in traditional use.
Watch out for
Chicory's strong taproot makes transplanting difficult after establishment, so direct seeding or early potting is preferable. The plant's vigorous self-seeding can require active management if you wish to prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons. Leaf bitterness intensity varies by cultivar and harvest timing; late-season leaves tend toward greater bitterness than spring growth.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Chicory is a hardy perennial with attractive bright blue flowers and a deep taproot, commonly grown for its edible leaves and roots. It tolerates poor soils and drought once established, making it valuable for both culinary and medicinal uses.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Chicory grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Chicory outperforms many leafy greens on marginal land, establishing deep roots that break compacted soil while tolerating neglect better than cultivated lettuce or endive. Its dual harvest potential (leaves for salad or cooking, roots for roasting or forcing blanched chicons) makes efficient use of garden space. The plant also serves as a reliable nectar source for pollinators across a long bloom window, and its bitter compounds support digestive health in traditional use.
Watch out for
Chicory's strong taproot makes transplanting difficult after establishment, so direct seeding or early potting is preferable. The plant's vigorous self-seeding can require active management if you wish to prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons. Leaf bitterness intensity varies by cultivar and harvest timing; late-season leaves tend toward greater bitterness than spring growth.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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