Woolly Goat's Beard Plant Care
Tragopogon lanatus L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Scorzonera judaica, commonly called Jordanian viper's grass, Judean viper's grass, or what was earlier known as salsify, is a species of geophyte of the family Asteraceae with yellow flowers. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean as far as Afghanistan.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Woolly Goat's Beard?
Water Woolly Goat's Beard every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Woolly Goat's Beard Native To?
What Is the Woolly Goat's Beard?
Woolly Goat's Beard (Tragopogon lanatus) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Tragopogon genus. Woolly Goat's Beard is native to the eastern Mediterranean as far as Afghanistan.
Woolly Goat's Beard displays an upright, clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Woolly Goat's Beard produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Woolly Goat's Beard?
Tragopogon lanatus requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Woolly Goat's Beard Need?
Woolly Goat's Beard thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Woolly Goat's Beard Prefer?
Tragopogon lanatus grows best at temperatures of 60–75°F. Woolly Goat's Beard prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Woolly Goat's Beard?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Woolly Goat's Beard to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Woolly Goat's Beard?
Feed Woolly Goat's Beard every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Woolly Goat's Beard?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Woolly Goat's Beard?
Woolly Goat's Beard can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to fl. carniol. ed. 2 plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Woolly Goat's Beard Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Woolly Goat's Beard, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Woolly Goat's Beard?
Woolly Goat's Beard is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Woolly Goat's Beard Need?
Woolly Goat's Beard grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Woolly Goat's Beard is native to the eastern Mediterranean as far as Afghanistan. In cooler regions, grow Woolly Goat's Beard as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Woolly Goat's Beard is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Tragopogon genus — compare its care with other Tragopogon species on PlantoScan.
Tragopogon is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Woolly Goat's Beard thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Tragopogon lanatus L., family Asteraceae (first published in Sp. Pl. ed. 2 2: 1111 (1763)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Woolly Goat's Beard, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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