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Logo of Kiwi Chicory with a Kiwi Bird
Kiwi Chicory Grass

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Kiwi Chicory

Kiwi Chicory (Chicorium intybus)

Kiwi is a very palatable, late-maturing, perennial herb providing extended seasonal growth, which is ideal for finishing livestock.

Key Features

  • Acid soil tolerant
  • Ideal for finishing livestock
  • Very high rate of summer activity
  • Excellent lucerne companion

Plant Characteristics

  • Short-term perennial
  • Grows broad prostrate leaves forming a rosette
  • Becomes more upright when actively growing in spring and nearing flowering

Activity

  • Warm-season growing herb, growing actively from early spring to late autumn. Winter growth slows when frosts occur, but will continue until soil temp drops below 9˚C.

Where can I grow it?

  • Deep tap root enables moderate drought tolerance
  • Can be used as an alternative to lucerne on acidic soils in high rainfall areas

Sowing Rate

  • 2-5 kg/ha

Blend Rate

  • 0.5-2 kg/ha

Seed Size

  • 830,000 seeds per kg (Source: Pasture Varieties used in NSW 2006-2007, Bev Zurbo, 2006)

Frequently Asked Questions

Soil Type

Prefers deep, fertile free-draining soils. Chicory is capable of rooting depth of over 1 metre.

Fertility

Good base rates of phosphorus are necessary for maximum DM production especially during the establishment phase. Chicory needs to be sown with annual legumes or regularly supplied with sufficient nitrogen to maintain quality and production.

Sowing

Chicory can be sown in autumn or late winter to spring, provided plants are established sufficiently to survive the first summer. Chicory is a small seed and should be sown at 2-5 kg/ha alone or 0.5-2 kg/ha in a mixed pasture.

Seedling recruitment will only occur under favourable conditions and management.