Plotwright
Home
Endive
Habit (mature) · Rasbak / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Endive
Cichorium endivia
A leafy cool-season salad green in the daisy family (Asteraceae), grown as an annual (sometimes biennial) for its mildly bitter, edible rosette of leaves. NC State Extension describes an erect, rapid-growing plant about 10 inches to 2 feet tall, with two main leaf forms: the narrow, curly, dark-green leaves of the frisée types (var. crispum) and the broad, flat leaves of escarole (var. latifolium). It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and India and grows best at cool temperatures around 60-65°F, finishing a crop in about 70-100 days. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked, and growers often blanch the heads to soften the natural bitterness before harvest.
Review: Source-backed
Edible
Container
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
10-24" tall · 12" apart
Hardy in zones
Annual; NC State lists a 4a-9b context
Summer heat range
Cool-Mild
cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Winter protection and storage
Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.
Search winter protection and storage on Amazon
Seed starting
Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.
Search seed starting on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Soil testing and pH
pH meters, soil test kits, lab mailers, and amendment calculators.
Search soil testing and ph on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Cold hardiness
This plant is grown as an annual; hardiness zones don't apply.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Endive (Cichorium endivia). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/endive
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright