It Looks Like a Dandelion, But It Isn’t
Cat’s ear is often mistaken for dandelion, but the hairy leaves and forked flower stems give it away. The good news? It’s actually easier to kill than true dandelions, responding well to a single selective weedkiller treatment.
Cat’s ear is one of the most commonly misidentified lawn weeds in the UK. At first glance it looks exactly like a dandelion, with yellow flowers, a rosette of leaves and fluffy seed heads that blow away on the wind. But look closer and you’ll spot the differences that set this “false dandelion” apart.
The good news is that cat’s ear is actually easier to control than true dandelions. It responds well to selective weedkillers and doesn’t regrow from root fragments, so once you’ve removed it properly, it stays gone.
How to Identify Cat’s Ear
Cat’s ear (Hypochaeris radicata) gets its name from the shape and texture of its leaves, which resemble a cat’s fuzzy ear. The leaves are covered in fine hairs, giving them a slightly rough feel when you run your fingers across them. They’re lobed rather than deeply toothed, with more rounded edges than dandelion leaves.
The leaves form a flat rosette that sits close to the ground, allowing it to survive even close mowing. They can grow up to 20cm long in undisturbed areas, though in regularly mowed lawns they stay much shorter.
Cat’s Ear vs Dandelion: Key Differences
The easiest way to tell cat’s ear from dandelion is by the flower stems. Cat’s ear produces solid, forked stems that branch to carry two or more flowers. Dandelion stems are hollow, unforked, and each carries just a single flower.
The leaves are also distinctly different. Cat’s ear leaves are hairy with rounded, irregular lobes. Dandelion leaves are smooth and hairless with deeply jagged, backward-pointing teeth that give them their characteristic saw-blade appearance.
Even the flowers differ on close inspection. Cat’s ear petals have flat, squared-off ends, while dandelion petals are more rounded. Both produce the familiar white puffball seed heads that scatter on the wind.
Both plants have deep taproots that make them drought-tolerant and difficult to pull by hand. Both thrive in similar conditions: dry, free-draining, nutrient-poor soil where grass struggles. You’ll often find them growing together in neglected lawns.
Why Cat’s Ear Appears in Your Lawn
Cat’s ear is a perennial weed that favours lawns under stress. It particularly thrives in compacted, dry soil that lacks nutrients. If you see cat’s ear appearing, it’s often a sign that your lawn needs attention.
Like yarrow, cat’s ear can withstand drought conditions that stress grass. Its deep taproot accesses moisture that shallow-rooted lawn grasses can’t reach. During dry spells, cat’s ear continues growing while the surrounding grass struggles.
The flat rosette growth habit means cat’s ear survives mowing easily. The leaves sit below the cutting height of most mowers, so regular mowing does nothing to weaken it. You need a different approach.
Hand Removal
Cat’s ear has one significant advantage over many lawn weeds: it doesn’t regenerate from root fragments. Remove the crown of the plant and it dies. This makes hand removal more effective than with weeds like dandelion, where any piece of taproot left behind can sprout a new plant.
Use a daisy grubber or long-bladed weeding knife to lever out the entire plant, getting as much of the taproot as possible. Work after rain when the soil is soft for easier extraction.
For isolated plants, hand removal is effective and satisfying. However, cat’s ear can produce up to 6,000 seeds per plant, so if you’ve let it flower, there are likely many more plants waiting to germinate. Hand removal works best as an ongoing maintenance approach combined with other control methods.
Using Selective Weedkiller
Cat’s ear responds well to selective lawn weedkillers. A single application is often enough to kill it, unlike more stubborn weeds that need repeated treatment.
Look for products containing 2,4-D, MCPA, mecoprop-P or dicamba, which are designed to kill broadleaf weeds while leaving grass unharmed. A combined feed and weed treatment is particularly effective because it kills the cat’s ear while feeding your grass to fill the gaps.
Apply when the weed is actively growing, typically between April and September. Choose a calm, dry day with no rain forecast for at least six hours. The weed should show signs of yellowing and distortion within one to two weeks.
For best results, mow your lawn two to three days before treating. This removes some leaf area but stimulates fresh growth that absorbs herbicide more readily.
Preventing Cat’s Ear From Returning
A healthy, well-fed lawn is your best long-term defence against cat’s ear. The weed thrives where grass is weak, so strengthening your lawn makes it harder for cat’s ear to establish.
Feed your lawn in spring and autumn with a quality fertiliser. Cat’s ear favours nutrient-poor soil, so improving fertility gives grass the competitive edge it needs.
Water during prolonged dry spells to keep grass growing actively. Cat’s ear exploits drought-stressed lawns where grass has gone dormant.
Aerate compacted areas annually to improve drainage and root development. Scarify in autumn to remove thatch that can prevent water and nutrients reaching grass roots.
Mow regularly at a height of 3-4cm throughout the growing season. Collect clippings when cat’s ear is flowering to prevent seeds spreading across your lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cat’s ear the same as dandelion?
No. They look similar but are different plants. Cat’s ear has hairy leaves with rounded lobes and forked, solid flower stems. Dandelion has smooth, deeply jagged leaves and single, hollow flower stems.
Is cat’s ear easier to control than dandelion?
Yes. Cat’s ear responds better to selective weedkillers and doesn’t regrow from root fragments. Remove the crown and it dies, whereas dandelion can regenerate from any piece of taproot left in the soil.
Why is cat’s ear called false dandelion?
Because of its similar appearance. Both have yellow flowers, rosette leaves and fluffy seed heads. The confusion is so common that cat’s ear has earned the nickname “false dandelion.”
Can I eat cat’s ear?
Yes. All parts are edible, with the young leaves being the most palatable. The leaves are milder and less bitter than dandelion. However, this doesn’t help if you want it out of your lawn.
Will mowing get rid of cat’s ear?
No. The flat rosette sits below mowing height, so regular cutting doesn’t affect it. You need to either dig it out or use selective weedkiller.
Don’t let cat’s ear take over your lawn. A selective lawn treatment kills this false dandelion while feeding your grass to fill the gaps. For severe lawn infestations, glyphosate can clear everything before reseeding. For more lawn weed advice, see our guides to dandelions, clover and plantain, or browse our complete lawn care guide.
