Chicory

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Information Sheet (PDF)

List C - Control Recommended

General

• Introduced from Mediterranean region
• Sunflower family (Asteraceae)

Common Names

• Chicory, Cornflower, Coffeeweed, Blue sailors

Habitat

• Adapted to harsh, dry and infertile soils along roadsides
• Perennial forb

Plant

Vegetation

• ½ inch wide and 2 to 6 inches long
• Leaves dark green with some red tones, lance shaped, deeply notched, fine hairs on both leaf surfaces
• Plant 4 to 5 feet tall
• Stems long, hollow. Nearly naked branching stalks distinguish chicory from dandelion

Roots

• Taproot

Flower

• Blue to lilac, sometimes white
• Clustered
• July to September
• Up to 1 ½ inch wide

Seed

• ¾ inch long
• 3000 seeds per plant
• Brown
• Can remain dormant in soil for up to 6 years
• Papus (parachute) present

Seedling

• Looks like a large dandelion
• Rosette early-spring

Reproduction

• Seed

Control

Biological

• None

Chemical

• View Information Sheet (PDF)

Cultural

• Prevention
• Removal - make sure the entire root is removed. Must be repeated as new plants germinate
• Re-vegetation of disturbed sites

Mechanical

• Burning - N/A
• Grazing - N/A
• Mowing - N/A

Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer's label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.