Yellow Salsify

Related Resources Types of Weeds Types of Flowers

Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius) goes by many names, including Western goat's beard, western salsify and yellow goat's beard. Wherever it goes, it also goes by the name weed.

The multi-petal flowers easily identify it as a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), and the long, thin, green sepals serve as a good field identification clue.

It grows to three feet in height, often in dry areas of higher elevations.

Like other weedy Asteraceae, it has a long tap root and a round, seedy head following the bloom. Proper control of the weed requires removing the entire root. Removing the flowering head of the plant prior to its going to seed would be a quick short cut to avoid further plant propagation.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels