Dandelion Bush

The Dandelion Bush is a Folktails-exclusive wild bush in Timberborn that produces Dandelions, a critical medicinal ingredient. Dandelion Bushes spawn naturally on many maps and can also be planted by Foresters, making them a renewable resource that fits neatly into any settlement layout. Each Dandelion Bush has the fastest growth cycle of any bush in the game at just 3 days from planting to harvest, and it yields 1 Dandelion per harvest cycle. A beaver assigned to a Gatherer Flag will automatically collect Dandelions from nearby bushes within the flag's generous work radius, which spans roughly 40 by 41 tiles.

After a Dandelion Bush is harvested, it regrows on its own and produces another Dandelion in 3 days without needing to be replanted. This regrowth mechanic means that once you establish a grove of Dandelion Bushes, they provide an indefinite supply of Dandelions as long as a Gatherer Flag and Forester remain active in the area. Unlike food-producing bushes such as Blueberry Bushes, the Dandelion Bush is classified as a support crop because Dandelions cannot be eaten directly. Instead, Dandelions serve as the primary ingredient for crafting Antidote, the only cure for Badwater contamination sickness in Timberborn.

Dandelion Bushes are found growing wild on most Timberborn maps, often scattered across fertile areas near water sources. When starting a new settlement, identifying existing wild Dandelion Bushes early can give you a head start on Antidote production. For long-term sustainability, assign a Forester to plant additional Dandelion Bushes in a dedicated area near your Gatherer Flag and Herbalist building. This minimizes the hauling distance for your beavers and keeps the entire Dandelion-to-Antidote production chain efficient. On maps with heavy Badwater contamination risk, dedicating an entire Forester to Dandelion cultivation is a worthwhile investment.

To get the most out of your Dandelion Bushes in Timberborn, plant them in areas that are safe from Badwater flooding, since contaminated soil can destroy your crops right when you need them most. Start cultivating Dandelion Bushes early in the game, well before Badtides arrive, so you have a healthy stockpile of Dandelions and Antidote ready when contamination strikes. Because the 3-day growth cycle is so fast, even a small planting area of 10 to 15 Dandelion Bushes can generate a meaningful surplus. Pair your Dandelion Bush grove with Blueberry Bushes to ensure both ingredients for Antidote production (Dandelions and Berries, if required by your recipe chain) are covered. The Dandelion Bush may seem like a humble plant, but it forms the backbone of the Folktails medical system and can be the difference between colony survival and collapse during severe Badwater events.