Tragopogon pratensis L.
Goat's beard
Goat's-beard is a native biennial of the daisy family, often called Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon because its flowers open with the morning sun and close again around midday. It has long, narrow, grass-like greyish leaves and a single large yellow flowerhead held on a stout stem.
About
Goat's-beard is a native biennial of the daisy family, often called Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon because its flowers open with the morning sun and close again around midday. It has long, narrow, grass-like greyish leaves and a single large yellow flowerhead held on a stout stem. A distinctive feature is the ring of slender green bracts that extends well beyond the ray florets, framing the bloom like a star.
After flowering it produces a striking, oversized seed clock, a globe of feathery parachutes much larger than a dandelion's. It grows in meadows, rough grassland, roadside verges and other open, well-drained sunny places, flowering mainly in early to midsummer. The blooms attract bees and other pollinators during their morning opening, and the seeds feed birds. Its bold flowers and dramatic seedheads make it an attractive, if short-lived, addition to meadow and grassland mixes.
Also known as
Goat's-Beard · Goatsbeard · Goat’s Beard · Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon · Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon · Meadow Goatsbeard · Meadow Salsify · Shepherd's clock · Shepherd's-clock · Yellow Goat's-beard
Synonyms
Hieracium tragopogon · Tragopogon carinatus · Tragopogon dulcis · Tragopogon praecox · Tragopogon pratensis angustifolius · Tragopogon pratensis antherotristis · Tragopogon pratensis eupratensis · Tragopogon pratensis graminifolius · Tragopogon pratensis pratensis · Tragopogon pratensis tortilis
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.