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Hieracium scabrum

Phonetic Spelling
hi-er-uh-KEE-um SKAY-brum
Description

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:
Tags:
#native perennial#NC native#native garden#milky sap#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#colonizing#self-fertile#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#native perennial#NC native#native garden#milky sap#NC Native Pollinator Plant#dry soils tolerant#colonizing#self-fertile#perennial
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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