What is chicory?
Chicory is a mid-summer to first frost flowering herbaceous perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae.) You may also know it as blue sailors, coffeeweed (how apt!), cornflower (not to be mistaken for Bachelor’s Buttons), Italian dandelion, or succory.
Perhaps you know it as New Orleans coffee, a coffee and chicory blend, as found at Cafe’ du Monde. Why is chicory added to coffee? Great question! The coffee and chicory blend has an interesting history that includes the American Civil War and the Great Depression.
Where does chicory grow?
It’s native to Europe, central Russia, and western Asian but can now be found in other parts of the world, including North America where it survives in zones 3-9.
I’ve noticed that it grows well along roadways and sidewalks, in gravel, or in any other harsh environment you can think of. The plant is dark green and is about 12-24 inches high. The bluish flower petals are flat at the ends, and slightly “fringed.” The leaves closest to the ground look exactly like dandelions. If you are looking for them on a sunny day, they are easy to see. But, on an overcast day or late afternoon, the flowers close up, and it’s harder to spot.
