Dandelion Pollen Color

Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion pollen is shown in the red and rust color family as general visual guidance. Use this page as a reference for pollen appearance, bloom timing, plant type, bee forage value, and available hardiness context.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

Visual guideDandelion pollen

Photo: Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 3.0

Plant Facts

SeasonSpring to Fall
USDA Zone3 - 9
Plant TypeWildflower
ForagePollen and nectar
Pollen ValueHigh
Nectar ValueHigh
Color FamilyRed and rust
Scientific NameTaraxacum officinale
Common NamesCommon dandelion
Reviewed2026-10-11

Quick Answer

Dandelion pollen is shown in this guide as a red and rust tone. It is listed as wildflower, associated with spring to fall bloom timing, USDA zone 3 - 9, and pollen and nectar forage value.

Pollen Color Notes

The visual color shown for Dandelion is grouped broadly with red and rust pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context

Dandelion is listed for spring to fall. The record lists USDA zone 3 - 9; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Its forage type is pollen and nectar, with pollen value marked as high and nectar value marked as high. Dandelions can be useful early-season forage where they are abundant, but availability varies with mowing, weather, and local conditions.

Identification Notes

Dandelions have low yellow flower heads and deeply toothed basal leaves. Pollen color should be used with the plant's growth habit and bloom timing.

Flower color note: Yellow. Flower color and pollen color may differ.

Related by Similar Color

Asparagus - Red and rust Snowdrop - Red and rust Rockrose - Red and rust Field Scabious (Red) - Red and rust Common Lime - Orange and amber Buttercup - Orange and amber

Related by Season

Broccoli - Spring to Fall Calendula - Spring to Fall Catnip - Spring to Fall Clematis - Spring to Fall Dogwood - Spring to Fall Elder - Spring to Fall

Related by Plant Type

Alfalfa - Wildflower Aster - Wildflower Balsam - Wildflower Bee Balm - Wildflower Bindweed - Wildflower Bird's-Foot Trefoil - Wildflower

Related by USDA Zone

Adam's Needle - Zone 4 - 10 Alder - Zone 2 - 7 Allium - Zone 3 - 9 Almond - Zone 4 - 8 Alsike Clover - Zone 3 - 8 American Basswood - Zone 3 - 8

Related by Bee Forage

Adam's Needle - Pollen and nectar Alfalfa - Pollen and nectar Allium - Pollen and nectar Almond - Pollen and nectar Alsike Clover - Pollen and nectar American Basswood - Pollen and nectar

Sources

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
USDA hardiness zone context USDA PLANTS Database
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
scientific name, common name, distribution context, plant classification NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
North Carolina State University Extension / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant identification, flower description, landscape and growing context Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Foundation contributors / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant image, image credit link
Dandelion flower head and leaves used as a pollen color reference

Photo: Greg Hume · CC BY-SA 3.0