Wild Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

1 well-established plant in a 9cm pot, sent in plastic-free packaging. A striking, drought-resilient perennial, prized for its brilliant blue flowers and versatile culinary uses.

Perennial | 60/120cm tall | Full sun | Edible leaves, flowers, and roots | Excellent nectar source and soil improver

Wild Chicory is a robust, deep-rooted perennial that produces a basal rosette of toothed leaves and tall, branching stems. The young leaves offer a distinct, pleasantly bitter flavour that is used in traditional Mediterranean salads.  Harvesting the leaves early in the spring or growing them in darkness (blanching) keeps the leaves crisp and mild. The thick, fleshy taproot has a long history of being harvested, roasted, and ground into a rich, caffeine-free coffee substitute. From mid-summer through to autumn, it produces an abundance of striking, sky-blue flowers that are a pretty, slightly bitter addition to salads. 

Wild Chicory is an incredibly hardworking plant. It develops a long taproot that allows it to access water far below the surface layer. This deep-rooting habit makes the plant exceptionally drought-tolerant and helpful for aerating and penetrating compacted, heavy soils. When in bloom, the large, open flowers provide an easily accessible and highly abundant source of pollen and nectar. It is a documented favourite of native pollinators, particularly drawing in honeybees, solitary mining bees, and hoverflies during the mid-to-late summer months when many early-flowering plants have finished their cycle.

This is a remarkably low-maintenance and resilient crop. Holding an RHS H5 hardiness rating, it will comfortably survive cold UK winters, dying back to its woody taproot before regenerating vigorously in the spring. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, often performing best in poor, dry, or chalky conditions where thirstier vegetables would struggle.

Delivery Information

All plants are carefully packed and sent in plastic-free packaging to protect both the plant and the environment. Plants are dispatched promptly so they arrive fresh, healthy, and ready to plant.

We ship orders using a tracked 24-hour delivery service, helping to minimise time in transit and reduce stress on the plant. Orders are packed by hand at the nursery, and we aim to dispatch early in the week to avoid delays over weekends.

If you have any questions about delivery timing or combining orders, please get in touch before ordering and we will be happy to help.

To find out more about other plants for your garden visit – https://dyfiplants.substack.com