Pilosella officinarum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hieracium pilosella
- Phonetic Spelling
- py-loh-SEL-ah oh-fiss-in-AY-rum
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Looks a lot like a dandelion but with lighter yellow flowers. The leaves are also different– they are covered with hairs, resembling a mouse's ears, and grow close to the ground. It spreads by above ground runners (stolons), often growing in large colonies.
It grows in well-drained to dry soil. Not bothered by heat or humidity.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pilosella
- Species:
- officinarum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and northern Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees feast on the nectar, while other insects lay their eggs on the leaves and stems. Eaten by rabbits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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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:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1" single yellow dandelion-like flower, sometimes two or three flowers. Bracts covered with stiff, long hairs and glands. Stalk is 8".
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Felty silver-grey foliage forms a low rosette with leafy stolons. No stem leaves. Basal leaves are 1-5 in. and oblong, white woolly below.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- No leaves on stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
