How to Grow and Care for Cat's ears

Smooth Cat's Ear (Hypochaeris glabra) is an annual flowering herb indigenous to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It’s a member of the dandelion family, and its flowers look very much like a regular dandelion. Like the dandelion, it bears seeds that are carried off by the wind.

Mediterranean cat's-ear is a wildflower with an appearance not dissimilar to the common dandelion. The two species differ, however, because mediterranean cat's-ear possesses a thinner, branched stem. The leaves are also different in appearance. It should also not be confused with its relative, Hypochaeris radicata.

The spotted piglet herb is a 20 to 100 cm high perennial herbaceous plant (hemicryptophyte). The stem is usually branched with two to three branches, rough-haired and has one to four leaves. The leaves are rosy, usually spotted brown, short, stiff-haired and are pressed on the ground.

Hypochaeris robertia is a Mediterranean species of plants in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. It grows in the central Mediterranean (Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Italy and North Africa) at elevations of 300–2700 metres above sea level. It flowers from spring to autumn. Each flower head is 1.8 to 2 cm in diameter.

Giant cat's-ear is a perennial herb known for its solitary yellow flower head atop a leafless stalk. This alpine plant thrives in rocky, mountainous environments, where its long taproot anchors it against harsh conditions. The rosette of hairy, lance-shaped leaves at its base helps giant cat's-ear conserve water, essential for survival at high altitudes.