Rough Hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hi-er-uh-KEE-um SKAY-brum
- Description
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Hieracium scabrum, commonly known as rough hawkweed, is a perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae or aster family. It has so many hairs that it feels rough to the touch, thus the common name rough hawkweed. It is native to the eastern half of North America, spanning from Georgia to Minnesota and north to Canada. The belief that hawks fed on this plant led naturalist Pliny to refer to this plant as hawkweed.
Rough hawkweed grows in dry, sandy areas of woodland openings, ledges, woodland borders, roadsides, bluffs, slopes and prairies with access to full sun. It prefers a location with full sun, however, can also be found in semi-shaded wooded areas. These locations distinguish the native rough hawkweed from other varieties of non-native hawkweed which are found in deeply wooded areas. Its distinctive leaf shape and arrangement also make it more identifiable.
Its stalks will produce 10 to 25 clusters of flowers that resemble dandelions.
Its fruits are achenes (technically cypselas), small, single seeded, dry fruits.
Small colonies of this plant can be formed by its spreading rhizomes.
Although the foliage is eaten by some wildlife, it's not their top choice due to the bitter tasting latex of the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hieracium
- Species:
- scabrum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC. TN, VA, VT, WI, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- The foliage and seeds are eaten by wild turkey and ruffed grouse. Occasionally, deer and rabbit may eat the leaves.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The dark brown achene are about 1/8" long and cylindrical.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers appear as small dandelion-like flowers in a flat-topped cluster. Each panicle can be up to 1' long and 6" wide. Each flower head consists of 30 to 60 ray florets.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Coarse, rough hairy plant with stout red-tinged stem. The elliptical leaves scan be up to 8" long, however, become smaller as they ascend the stem. Both the upper and underside of the leaves have hairs. A milky, latex is contained in the leaves. After the stalk with alternate leaves dies down in the winter months, a small rosette of basal leaves may appear.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- This plant has a light green, unbranched, leafy central stem which contains a milky latex.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
