Italico Rosso Chicory Seeds (Cichorium intybus) Red-stemmed Italian dandelion chicory with serrated leaves. Great for bitter greens lovers and fall harvesting

Minimum: 50+ Seeds

🌿 Bold. Bitter. Beautiful. • Italian Heirloom • Cold-Loving Red Chicory for Cooking & Salads

For fans of bitter greens, Italico Rosso Chicory is a dream come true. Also known as Red-Stemmed Italian Dandelion, this striking heirloom chicory (Cichorium intybus) delivers deeply serrated leaves with vivid red stems that pop in fall gardens and harvest baskets. Its flavor is assertive and complex—perfect for sautés, braises, and salads with a sharp edge.

Grown traditionally across Italy as a fall and winter staple, Italico Rosso performs best in cool weather, where its colors deepen and flavors mellow slightly. Whether you love it raw with lemon and oil or cooked low and slow with garlic, this chicory brings bold energy and visual drama to your plate and your plot.

🌿 Why Grow Italico Rosso Chicory?

🍷 Striking Red Midribs & Serrated Leaves
Ornamental and edible—adds color and texture to gardens and meals alike.

🌿 Classic Bitter Chicory Flavor
Earthy and sharp—just what bitter greens lovers crave in fall and winter cooking.

🍽️ Culinary Versatility
Tame it with heat or acid—great sautéed with garlic, tossed in salads, or folded into frittatas.

❄️ Cool-Season Superstar
Thrives in autumn—flavor improves and bitterness softens as temperatures drop.

🌱 Open-Pollinated & Non-GMO
Naturally grown and chemical-free—perfect for heirloom collections and kitchen gardens.

🌿 How to Grow Italico Rosso Chicory

Botanical Name: Cichorium intybus
Plant Type: Biennial (grown as annual for leaves)
Days to Germination: 7–14 days
Days to Maturity: 55–70 days
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil with moderate moisture
Seed Depth: ¼ inch
Spacing: 6–10 inches
Height at Maturity: 10–14 inches
USDA Zones: 3–10

Sow seeds in late summer for fall harvest or start in early spring for early greens. Space plants closely for cut-and-come-again greens or give more room for full leaf production. Cooler temps deepen color and reduce bite.

🛠️ Growing Tips

• Harvest outer leaves early or wait for full heads to form.

• Best when grown in fall—less bolting, deeper color, better texture.

• Bitter? Blanch or soak leaves before cooking, or pair with citrus and vinegar.

• Leave some to flower in year two to feed pollinators and save seed.

🌎 Perfect For:

🥬 Bitter Greens Lovers – A must-have for those who love arugula, dandelion, and radicchio
🍽️ Italian-Inspired Dishes – Sautéed, braised, or grilled with garlic and olive oil
🧺 Market Growers – Unique and eye-catching for chefs and CSA shares
🧑🌾 Fall Gardeners – Cold-hardy, reliable, and gorgeous as temperatures drop
🪴 Raised Beds & Kitchen Plots – Grows beautifully in small spaces with style

🌱 Fun Fact:
While often called a “dandelion,” Italico Rosso is actually a chicory cousin with a much bolder stem color and more refined leaf texture. It has deep roots in Italian folk medicine for aiding digestion and stimulating appetite.

🔒 Bitter Greens, Better Flavor

At Terra Mater Gardens, we celebrate bold flavors and beautiful forms. Our Italico Rosso Chicory Seeds are open-pollinated, untreated, and selected for leaf color, stem strength, and reliable fall performance. If you love your greens with a little edge, this red-stemmed heirloom is your garden’s next standout.