Invasive non-native species often exhibit traits in their invaded range that differ from those of the conspecifics in their home range, and this difference may contribute to success in invaded habitats. Despite such trait shifts, however, non-native species can encounter biotic resistance in invaded habitats from established, diverse communities that must be disturbed for successful invasion. The objective of this experimental greenhouse study was to investigate the invasion dynamics of Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion) by comparing the recruitment, growth and trait variation of invaded-range (U.S.) and home-range (Europe) conspecifics in the presence of single- and multi-species turfgrass communities. Wild-collected native and non-native T. officinale seeds were introduced to greenhouse trays containing turfgrass communities of Digitaria sanguinalis, Lolium multiflorum, Festuca arundinacea or all three combined. Given that invasion success often decreases with increased community richness, I expected greater T. officinale success in single-species treatments than in all-species turfgrass treatments. Given that some invaded-range plant species demonstrate greater competitive abilities than their home-range conspecifics, I also predicted that the invaded-range T. officinale plants would better recruit (germination and seedling success) and compete in turfgrass community plots than home-range plants. The invaded-range T. officinale indeed had higher seed germination success than home-range plants, particularly in disturbed, competitor-free environments. The invaded-range plants also allocated more resources toward above-ground growth and larger leaves, particularly when competing with tall grasses, indicating a strategy focused on light competition. Despite these shifts, however, neither invaded- nor home-range plants performed particularly well in competitive turfgrass plots. Whereas phenotypic plasticity has been suggested as a key factor in invasion success, the invaded-range T. officinale exhibited less plasticity in root-to-shoot ratios and specific leaf area than their home-range counterparts. These findings suggest that invasive success in T. officinale is likely driven by preadapted traits, such as high germination rates and enhanced light-harvesting strategies, that facilitate the plants in disturbed habitats.