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What is Forage Chicory?
Cichorium intybus is a perennial forb native to Europe and western Asia, where it has been used for both livestock forage and human food for thousands of years. The forage varieties grown for pasture are distinct from the endive and radicchio types grown for human consumption—forage selections are bred for maximum biomass production, persistence under grazing, and high palatability to livestock. Modern forage chicory breeding began in earnest in New Zealand in the 1970s–80s, where researchers were looking for summer-productive alternatives to perennial ryegrass in intensively managed sheep and beef systems. New Zealand-developed varieties (Puna, Grasslands Puna) became the standard globally, and the research base on forage chicory’s agronomic performance and anthelmintic effects is largely from New Zealand and UK institutions. The taproot is the defining anatomical feature of this plant. It can reach 5–10 feet in depth under good soil conditions, giving chicory access to water and minerals unavailable to shallow-rooted grasses. This deep reach is why chicory maintains productivity during summer droughts when companion grasses go dormant—it is pulling moisture and nutrients from far below the dry topsoil layer. The root also stores carbohydrate reserves that drive regrowth after grazing events.
Specifications
Seeding Specs
Water Needs Low to Moderate (drought-tolerant once established)
Soil Preference Performs best in well-drained, fertile soils with good subsoil depth for taproot development. Tolerates moderate clay. Does not tolerate waterlogged or poorly drained soils—the taproot will rot in saturated conditions. Drought-tolerant once established due to deep root system.
Soil pH pH 5.5–7.0
Planting Depth 1/4 inch or surface broadcast
Establishment Specs
Height 12–36 inches managed; up to 5 feet if allowed to bolt
Color Green rosette foliage; blue flowers when bolting
Uses Pasture Improvement, Food Plot, Soil Mineral Cycling, Summer Forage, Anthelmintic
Native/Introduced Introduced — native to Europe and western Asia; naturalized widely in North America
Why Choose This Seed?
Exceptional Summer Forage Quality
Forage chicory runs about 15–25% crude protein during the vegetative growth stages—comparable to alfalfa and higher than perennial ryegrass (typically 12–18%) and most summer-producing grasses. Digestibility is also high, making it an efficient source of nutrition for growing lambs, lactating ewes, and deer during the summer period when other cool-season forages are going dormant or declining in quality. Chicory’s summer productivity window is one of its key advantages: it fills the mid-summer gap when cool-season grasses underperform.
Deep Mineral Cycling
The chicory taproot reaches deep into the subsoil — commonly several feet, up to about 6 feet in deep soils — accessing calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace minerals that grasses and legumes with shallow root systems cannot reach. Those minerals are transported into the plant tissue, consumed by grazing animals, and returned to the topsoil through manure. Over time, this process measurably improves the mineral profile of grazed pastures. Livestock grazing chicory-based pastures tend to show better mineral status than those on grass-only systems—particularly for calcium and phosphorus.
Anthelmintic Properties for Small Ruminants
Peer-reviewed research from New Zealand, the UK, and Denmark documents that sheep and goats grazing forage chicory show reduced fecal egg counts for gastrointestinal nematode parasites compared to animals on grass-only pastures. The mechanism involves sesquiterpene lactones and other secondary metabolites in the chicory plant tissue. This is not a replacement for strategic anthelmintic treatment, but it is a meaningful tool for producers trying to reduce parasite pressure through pasture management—especially relevant as anthelmintic resistance increases in parasite populations.
Prime Summer Food Plot for Deer
Deer graze forage chicory heavily throughout summer and early fall when protein demand is highest (antler growth, fawn rearing). The high crude protein and high palatability make chicory one of the most effective warm-season food plot plants in the eastern and midwestern U.S. Because chicory is perennial, a single seeding provides multiple seasons of attraction without replanting—a meaningful advantage over annual food plot species that require annual seed purchase and establishment.
Honest About Limitations
Chicory takes 45–60 days to establish to grazeable height—it is not a quick-establishment crop. During establishment, it competes poorly with aggressive grasses and requires either a companion crop management strategy or a clean seedbed. Stand persistence is management-dependent: rotational grazing with adequate rest periods supports 3–5 years; continuous set-stocking degrades stands in 1–2 years. Do not graze until plants reach 8–10 inches. Chicory will bolt and flower if not kept grazed or mowed; bolted plants are less palatable and set seed aggressively. It is not a winter cover crop.
How to Plant Forage Chicory
Site Prep
A clean, firm, fine-textured seedbed gives chicory the best start. Because establishment is slower than grasses, weed competition during the first 45–60 days is the main risk.
Control perennial weeds before planting—chicory cannot compete with established perennial grass or broadleaf weeds during germination and early growth.
Light tillage or a no-till drill into killed sod both work; success depends more on weed control and seedbed firmness than tillage method.
Seeding
Drill at 2–3 lbs/acre at 1/4 inch depth, or broadcast at 3–5 lbs/acre followed by a cultipacker or drag pass. Seed should not be buried deeper than 1/4 inch—chicory seedlings are small and lack the energy reserves to emerge from depth.
Spring planting window is 4–6 weeks before last frost. Late summer window is 6–8 weeks before first frost. Both work; spring planting gives more growth in the establishment year.
Establishment
Germination takes 7–14 days. Seedlings establish slowly compared to grasses and clovers—this is normal.
The plant is building root reserves in the first 45–60 days before putting on significant top growth. Do not graze until plants are 8–10 inches tall.
Early grazing kills the stand by pulling unrooted plants from the soil. Once established, chicory is persistent and drought-tolerant.
The first grazing should be light and brief to avoid plant loss.
Termination / Management
Chicory is a perennial managed for longevity, not termination. To maintain stand quality, graze rotationally with rest periods of 30–45 days between grazings.
Keep plants in the vegetative stage by grazing before bolting—once plants bolt and flower, palatability drops. Mow bolted sections to reset vegetative growth.
If transitioning out of a chicory stand, herbicide termination (glyphosate) is effective. Allow 3–4 weeks after application before planting a new species.
Helpful Resources
Pasture Seed Planting Guide
A Hunter’s Paradise: Growing Food Plots for Deer and Elk
Attract Those Gobblers With Turkey Food Plots
Questions & Answers
How long will a forage chicory stand last?
Under good management—rotational grazing with 30–45 day rest periods, avoiding continuous set-stocking—expect 3–5 years of productive stand life. The primary cause of stand decline is overgrazing. Continuous grazing pressure prevents root carbohydrate replenishment, which weakens plants and allows grass competition to crowd out the chicory. Stands managed with adequate rest periods and controlled stocking density consistently persist longer. After 4–5 years, even well-managed stands naturally thin out and benefit from interseeding or renovation. Some stands persist longer—but plan your investment around a 3–5 year productive life.
Does forage chicory really reduce internal parasites in sheep?
The research evidence is solid. Multiple peer-reviewed studies from New Zealand, the UK, and Scandinavia document that sheep grazing forage chicory show significantly reduced fecal egg counts for gastrointestinal nematodes compared to sheep on ryegrass-only pastures. The effect is attributed to secondary plant metabolites—sesquiterpene lactones and condensed tannins—present in chicory tissue. The reduction is meaningful (20–40% lower egg counts in multiple trials) but not absolute. Chicory is best understood as a complementary parasite management tool that reduces chemical treatment frequency, not a replacement for strategic anthelmintic use when parasite burdens are high.
Can I plant chicory in a food plot mix?
Yes, and it’s commonly done. Chicory blends well with red clover, white clover, and plantain in perennial food plot mixes. In these blends, use 2–3 lbs/acre of chicory alongside 3–4 lbs/acre of clover. The combination provides season-long browse: clover for spring and early summer protein, chicory for high-quality mid-summer and early fall forage when deer nutritional demands are highest (antler growth, fawn rearing). The mix also provides visual and structural diversity in the plot that deer often prefer to monocultures. Chicory’s blue flowers attract pollinators as a side benefit.
When is the best time to plant forage chicory?
Spring and late summer are both viable planting windows. Spring planting (when soil is 50°F+, 4–6 weeks before last frost) gives plants a full season to establish root reserves before winter dormancy. Late summer planting (6–8 weeks before first frost) works in Zone 5 and warmer and avoids summer heat stress on young seedlings. Late summer planting in northern zones is risky—if frost arrives before plants are well-rooted, stand survival can be poor. In Zone 5, spring planting is safer. In Zone 6 and warmer, late summer is often the better choice because it avoids summer heat during the vulnerable early establishment period.
Does forage chicory stay productive in summer drought?
Better than most other forages. The deep taproot (commonly several feet, up to ~6 ft) gives chicory access to subsoil moisture that grasses and legumes with 12–18 inch root systems cannot reach. During summer droughts when perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass go semi-dormant and reduce production, chicory typically continues to put on growth—more slowly, but without the near-complete shutdown that affects shallow-rooted species. This summer productivity is one of chicory’s primary values in pasture systems: it fills the mid-summer forage gap when cool-season grasses underperform and warm-season annuals are the only alternative.
What seeding rate should I use for chicory?
Broadcast seeding: 3–5 lbs/acre as a monoculture; 2–3 lbs/acre in a blend. Drilling: 2–3 lbs/acre monoculture; 1.5–2 lbs/acre in a blend. Use the lower end of these ranges when drilling into a clean, firm seedbed with reliable moisture. Use the higher end when broadcasting into rougher conditions or when competition from existing vegetation is a concern. Over-seeding does not improve establishment—chicory seedlings that are too dense will compete with each other and produce a weaker stand than a properly spaced planting. Accurate calibration of your spreader for small seed is worth the time.
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FL,United States
Perfect complement to my clover/alfalfa food plot. The deer hammer the chicory in the fall.
TX,United States
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