Blue flowers brighten Iowa’s roadsides during the summer. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
If you drive on nearly any Iowa county road and many main highways, too, you’ve undoubtedly seen light blue flowers brightening the roadside.
Although not native to North America, chicory (Cichorium intybus) has become ubiquitous in the state, and many others, as well.
According to Polk County Conservation, Chicory was introduced to North America from Europe and is now a common roadside flower found throughout most of the continent.
Chicory has many uses, but is most well known for its association with coffee, the site notes. The roots of chicory can be roasted, ground, and used as a coffee additive.
It may also be used for salads, flavoring for stout beers or forage crop for livestock.
Roots and leaves have long been used for medicinal purposes, as noted in Mother Earth Living.
Chicory often can be seen blooming alongside other wildflowers, such as Queen Anne’s lace, a European native that now grows wild in the United States. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
This is a great post, but the answer to your question is probably a lot more people than you think.
I was hoping that on a blog called Homegrown Iowan, you might have gone to some local sources for information about using the botanicals therapeutically. You have a knowledgeable practitioner there in Cedar Rapids and Mother Earth News while a great homesteading source, is not the most accurate source for herbal research.
Thank you for your message, Stephany! I don’t know that Iowans would have a different use for chicory than people elsewhere, but if you have information, please share!
Queen Annes Lace is not a native plant
Thanks Deb! Yes, Queen Anne’s Lace is a European native, which now grows wild in the U.S.
queen Anne’s lace is nothing but a weed and so is golden rod ! I think they should both be aradicated ! people with allergens these two has to be two of the worst ! if you can eat them or use them medically let’s keep them ! think of the ones that suffer from them !
I was trying to remember the name of this plant … this is just what I needed! Thank you for posting 🙂
These grow wild by the roadside here on Long Island New York too. However, your article only answered half of what I was looking to find out. Now thanks to you I know the name. But what I really want to know is why these grow wild all over the roadsides, yet I have never seen anything but dandelions and clover growing wild in any lawn or garden?
Good question! I imagine the growing conditions are less conducive for the plant in lawns/gardens, but would have to look into that.
Since Chicory is grown near roads that are concrete or rocks, it is a more alkaline and mineral based plant. Similar to Plantain likes the same soil and does well in rock and cracks of driveways.