As the spring months approach and the flowers begin to bud, the continual controversy pops from the melting snow. Is there a natural goodness in dandelions? Are they beautiful flowers? Or are they perched on lawns, little beacons of uncontrolled growth that lie within the bed of the earth? I took it upon myself to find out.
After searching the great wide internet web, I have come to a number of conclusions about dandelions and the threat they pose to our immaculate suburban lawns. In the words of an anonymous Covenant College student ‘21, “Dandelions are weeds. As an owner of a lawn maintenance business, whenever I see a dandelion sprout, I am not only grieved, but also reminded of sin. In the same way sin is indicative of an underlying greater problem, this invasive species always has more sinister intentions beneath the grass. It needs to be stopped.” These bold and controversial words resonate profoundly with a number of individuals, I am sure, which is why I found it pertinent to discuss the concept of a dandelion as a whole.
First, a bit of background. The name ‘dandelion’ is thought to be derived from the French “dent de lion” which means ‘lion’s tooth.’ This refers to the jagged edges of the leaves of the dandelion plant. The scientific name, Taraxacum officinale has Persian roots, which is thought to be because dandelions are actually native to another part of the world: Eurasia. In this part of the world, over one thousand years ago, dandelions were being used for medicinal properties and nutrition. Brought to other parts of the world at various times, it is thought the intention behind its relocation was to take the benefits of the dandelion with the traveler.
But, horror of horrors, the dandelion spread rapidly. The idea of an invasive species is not foreign to many of our readers, so I won’t go into much detail about that; however, one of the most hated aspects of the dandelion is how rapidly the seeds are spread. A dandelion sprouts as that characteristic bright yellow flower we know so well, but after a few days, it closes up and lies seemingly dormant. Yet during this time, it is actually transforming into the alter-ego dandelion: the seed head. These seeds can be carried great distances by the wind, and grow quickly and easily. For this reason, dandelions are commonly referred to as weeds.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a weed as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth.” Having already considered the way dandelions grow, the final remaining question is why is this plant not valued? Emily Upton of “Today I Found Out” writes that weeds “can hurt the surrounding plants by depriving them of sunshine and nutrients in the soil,” as well as being incredibly difficult to get rid of entirely. Dandelions are of a group called the “broad-leaf weeds,” suggesting the large leafy part and coarse root system beneath the surface, which can change the appearance of a lawn as well as pose a difficulty in uprooting.
All things considered, it seems to me that the only ones deciding what a weed is and isn’t is ourselves. I think we should be making more of an effort to value the plants that are around us. If not simply for the sentimental value of dandelions, as many have expressed nostalgia over dandelion blooms, dandelions actually offer unbelievable benefits. A wine can be made from the head of the dandelion, while the leaves are high in Vitamin K, and the roots can brew a bitter drink similar to coffee. Dandelions have also been linked to reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, aiding indigestion, boosting the immune system, and more. Not only that, but dandelions also increase biodiversity, are an important food source for wildlife, and have actually been shown to improve soil conditions.
In my opinion, I think we place too high a value on the outward appearance of things. Perhaps dandelions may cause a lawn to not look smoothly manicured, but these strong plants offer so much more. Farmers spend billions of dollars every year trying to reduce weeds, and I wonder what might occur if we simply accepted their presence. Johnny Caryopsis of naturenorth.com sums his views of dandelions up with this quote, that I quite like: “The war on dandelions is a war we cannot win…And remember, it’s just a little plant, it's not the second coming of Satan.” Dandelions bring joy. If you really want to remove them from your landscape then use them to boil tea and boost your immune system.
References
“12 Health Benefits Of Dandelion Leaves And Dandelion Root [INFOGRAPHIC].” Sunwarrior, 2019-10-30 20:29:13 -0600, sunwarrior.com/blogs/health-hub/11-health-benefits-of-dandelion-leaves-and-dandelion-root.
Collicutt, Doug. “The Biology of Dandelions.” NatureNorth Front Page, www.naturenorth.com/summer/dandelion/Dandelion2.html.
Ly, Linda. “Defending the Dandelion: It's Not Just Another Weed.” Garden Betty, Garden Betty, 23 Apr. 2019, www.gardenbetty.com/defending-the-dandelion-its-not-just-another-weed/.
Upton, Emily. “Why Some Plants Are Weeds and Others Aren't.” Today I Found Out, 22 Apr. 2014, www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/04/plants-weeds-others-arent/.