Cat's Ear (False Dandelion)

What it looks like

Hairy leaves with rounded lobes form a low rosette. It sends up a wiry, branched stalk carrying several small yellow flowers at once, unlike a true dandelion's single flower on a smooth, hollow, unbranched stalk.

Often mistaken for: True dandelion

When it shows up in the Triangle

Flowers from spring through fall in the Triangle, especially in lawns that are thin or under stress.

Where you’ll see it

Shows up in home lawns with weak or thinning turf.

What you can do

• Keep turf thick and healthy with proper mowing height, regular watering, and good fertility
• Overseed bare or thin spots so weeds have less room to move in
• Hand-pull scattered plants, making sure to get the taproot
• Mow regularly to prevent seed heads from spreading