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Dandelions have been given a bad name by gardeners who wish for a perfect lawn. But they are not the invasive weed most people believe them to be.
They are a perennial herb, introduced to Canada and United States by Europeans. The settlers brought dandelions with them because they used the plant as a medicine and food crop.
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Dandelions donât deserve such a poor reputation Back to video
The yellow flowers are the first colour we see after the winter and you will see fields of permanent pasture and roadsides covered with the flowers. They pop up in lawns every year, even if you try to eradicate them. Many consider them to be weeds. But the flowers provide the seasonâs first pollen and nectar for bees and other insects, and the leaves and seeds feed birds, chipmunks and other wildlife. Later, the dandelionâs fluffy heads will be used by hummingbirds to line their tiny nests.