Chicory
Cichorium intybus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Alvesgaspar
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Cichorium
- Species:
- Cichorium intybus
- USDA Symbol:
- CIIN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, lavender, white, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Aletia oxygala, Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), clandestine dart (Spaelotis clandestina), kidney-spotted minor (Lacinipolia renigera), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Walker’s Atlas Moth (Samia walkeri)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Bombus Latreille, Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Ceratina Latreille, Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Confusing bumble (Bombus perplexus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, moderately fertile soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Surface sow or lightly cover; prefers temperatures around 65-75°F.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI