Chicory
The pretty light blue flowers you see by the roadside in summer are chicory, a coveted bitter salad green in Italy and france. A white version of the plant, grown without sunlight, goes by the name Belgian endive and is available at local markets.
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Where to Find It
Chicory grows all over Denmark, but less abundantly in northern and western Jutland. Look for it in dry soil that has plenty of nutrients and sunlight. It commonly comes up along roads and in ditches.
Towns, roadsides, grasslands, salt marshes.
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Where to Find It
Chicory leaves taste best before the plant begins flowering; after that, they’ll be too bitter.
Leaves: April, May. -
How to Spot It
Each chicory plant bears several light blue flowers the size of a 5-krone piece (or slightly larger than a US quarter). It can grow up to a meter tall and has many side shoots. The leaves spread out on sturdy stems and look like a smaller version of the dandelion’s.
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How to Pick It
Use a knife or scissors to pluck the chicory leaves—the stem can be tough.
Flowers: June, July, August, September.
Risk of misidentifying the plant
There is no risk of mistaking the plant for another dangerous or undesirable plant.
