Mouse-ear Hawkweed Pilosella officinarum
Previously known as:
- Hieracium pilosella
- Phonetic Spelling
- py-loh-SEL-ah oh-fiss-in-AY-rum
- Description
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Mouse-ear hawkweed is a perennial weed in the Asteraceae (daisy) family native to Europe but it has spread rapidly and aggressively to North America. It is found growing in meadows, disturbed sites, or in lawns reaching 8 inches tall and wide.
It resembles 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), or through its wind-dispersed seeds often growing in large colonies.
It grows in well-drained to dry depleted soils and is not bothered by heat or humidity making it able to take over and displace native plants easily.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is weedy and aggressive and is listed as invasive in OR, WA and MN.
- 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: 2 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- 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:
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
- Weedy
