This is a common but distinctive blue flowered plant of late summer. The stiff stems, sometimes over 1 m tall can be seen at roadsides in most of England and Wales and southern Scotland but it isn't very common in Ireland.

The leaves can be used in salad but it is most famous as an additive to coffee. It has a tap root like a dandelion and this is dried, roasted and ground into the coffee additive. On some parts of the continent they make a drink from the Chicory alone without any coffee.

Mudchute Park, Isle of Dogs 1st July 2006

Added on 9th July 2006, updated 1st December 2008,upadted 14th March 2010, July 17th 2017