Jack Go to Bed at Noon

Tragopogon pratensis (tra-go-POH-gon pray-TEN-sis)

Family: Asteraceae Non-native Herbaceous

Yellow Goat's Beard is an ornamental biennial wildflower with edible roots, shoots, stems, and leaves. This wildflower is typically found along roadsides, woodlands, fields, and other disturbed areas. The plant is a member of the Asteraceae or Aster family. Other common names include Meadow Goat's Beard, Meadow Salsify, Noonflower, and Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon. The plant is native to Europe to Central Asia and Turkey. It has been introduced to widespread areas of Canada, Haiti, and the United States. The origin of the genus name Tragopogon is derived from two Greek words. Tragos means "goat" and pogon means "beard." "Beard" references the fuzzy seedhead that is produced after flowering. The species name pratensis means "of the meadows" and refers to its typical habitat. The species common name Jack-Go-To- Bed-At-Noon refers to the flowering trait of closing by noon on sunny days. Yellow Goat's Beard performs best in full sun, sandy, loamy, or clay soils and tolerates strong winds. It is intolerant to shade. The plant reseeds itself from its "giant dandelion" plume, which is easily carried off by the wind. The plant is biennial and forms a low-growing rosette the first year. In the second year, the plant produces one or more flowering stems that are 1 to 3 feet tall. The stem is erect and contains a milky sap. The leaves are grass-like, green with a whitish cast, and the leaf blades curve backward at the tips. From May to August a yellow daisy-like flower appears at the top of the stem. The fruit is a fluffy tannish white pappas that is easily carried off by the wind to reseed. Yellow Goat's Beard has ornamental, medicinal, and edible properties. Bees and other insects are attracted to the flowers for nectar and pollination. Small mammals are not attracted to the bitter-tasting sap of the foliage, stems, and roots. This plant could be considered for a Wildflower Garden, Pollinator Garden, or Cottage Garden. Quick ID Hints: grows 1-3 feet tall roots, stems, and leaves have a milky sap the foliage is grass-like with curling of the leaf blade at the tips smooth green foliage with a whitish-cast deep yellow solitary daisy-like flowers the flower opens in the morning on sunny days and closes by noon 8 floral bracts surround the flower and are as long as or shorter than the petals giant dandelion-like fuzzy seedhead Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: The plant is generally pest and disease-free. Spittlebugs may be found on the stems.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.