Each time I think I’ve seen them all, I come across another extraordinary fuchsia.And it’s not just Fuchsia magellanica hybrids anymore
06.06.2023 - 17:57 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow Common Chicory Cichorium intybusDo you know how to identify common chicory?
I’d forgive you for blithely walking past a patch of chicory growing on the side of the road.
Ungainly until its brilliant daisy-like, sky blue blossoms emerge, it rarely garners a second look.
Once the blooms come out, it’s a different story. It’s as if the pale violet blue of the sky just before sunrise has been captured and preserved in the flowers of this humble herb as they start to open.
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Just as the sky fades to a light blue as the sun rises, so do the flowers.
Still, this probably isn’t a plant that you want growing front and center in an ornamental garden, given its underwhelming leaves and stems.
But it certainly deserves a place amongst your edibles. The charming blooms are just a bonus.
These days, chicory isn’t one of those plants that you’ll find growing in every kitchen garden, but it has an incredibly storied past that includes a place in the Talmud, and in the garden of one of Western history’s most famous botanists.
The root makes a tasty, if bitter, substitute for coffee, and it’s gained a reputation as a health food thanks to its high inulin content. The leaves and flowers are edible as well.
Ready to dedicate some space in the garden to this unassuming herb? Here’s what I’ll cover:
Don’t worry if you’ve never grown chicory before. It’s one of those plants that makes everyone look like they have the greenest thumb.
Let’s get gardening!
What Is Chicory?Chicory is a perennial herb that has proven so useful and persistent that we humans have brought it with us practically whenever we go.
That’s why you can find it today
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