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Bright yellow Colt’s‑foot flowers in bloom, with several round, daisy‑like flower heads made of fine, narrow petals clustered closely togethe

Colt's-foot © Vaughn Matthews

Colt's-foot

Looking like a short dandelion, but with a much rounder middle, colt's-foot is a 'weed' of waste ground and field edges that brightens up early spring with its sunshine-yellow flower heads.

Scientific name

Tussilago farfara

When to see

February to April

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 15cm

Conservation status

Common.

About

A common and creeping perennial of bare, damp or disturbed ground, colt's-foot can be found on waste ground, field edges and roadside verges. Sun-yellow, daisy-like, composite flower heads (made up to lots of tiny flowers) appear as early as February, and well before the hoof-shaped leaves (hence the common name). Colt's-foot continues to brighten up rough ground until April.

How to identify

Colt's-foot has large, yellow flower heads, similar to those of the common dandelion and cat's-ears, but their prominent, round middles give the identity of this plant away. Its flowers are borne on scaly stems and the leaves are rounded or heart-shaped.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

The fact that the flowers of colt's-foot appear before the leaves do has led to one of its other common names: 'Son-before-father'.