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Goatsbeard

Flower of Goatsbeard

Tragopogon pratensis

Hooray for weeds! This little yellow one was growing around Pilot Mountain in North Carolina where we go to rock climb. This flower is known as the Flower of Goatsbeard or Meadow Salsify.

The Goatsbeard is native to Europe but is now well established across North America. After the flower blooms it results in a puffy cotton ball similar to the dandelion but a bit more robust.  Though it is a weed – it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental flower. The plant is sometimes called John-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon because the flowers often close during the heat of midday.

Eat More Weeds!
The root of the Goatsbeard can be eaten raw or cooked and have a sweet flavor due to inulin. Generally the roots are eaten raw when they are young but when they get older are often cooked similar to parsnips. The plants young leaves and stems can also be eaten and if young and tender are often tossed into salads.

Weeds for Health!
The Goatsbeard has a stimulating and detoxifying effect that can also stimulate appetite. It is thought to help the liver and the gallbladder. The root can actually act as an expectorant and also contract tissue, purify the blood and induce urination. With its ability to stimulate appetite and purify it is thought to help those who use it gain weight and strength. It can be used to create a syrup that helps with a particularly stubborn cough, and as a treatment of heartburn. For diabetics, the plant is ideal because it has a high inulin content which is a nutrient made of fructose, not glucose, so it doesn’t mess with your blood sugar levels.