Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed): Minnesota Wildflowers

Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Devil's Paintbrush
Genus:	Hieracium
Family:	Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Status:	Invasive - ERADICATE! Noxious Weed
Habitat:	part shade, sun; dry fields, along roads, disturbed soil
Bloom season:	June - October
Plant height:	6 to 24 inches
County distribution (click map to enlarge):

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Compact cluster of 5 or more dandelion-like flowers on short hairy stalks at the top of the plant. Flowers are ¾ to 1 inch across, deep red-orange to orange to yellow-orange, often fading to yellow in the center. The bracts behind the flower are densely covered in glandular hairs.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves mostly surround the base of the plant, 2 to 5 inches long and to 1 inch wide, pointed or rounded at the tip, and toothless. 1 or 2 small leaves may also be alternately attached on the lower stem. The leaves and stem are both covered in long hairs.

Fruit:

Fruit is a dark seed with a tuft of white hair to carry it off in the wind.

Notes:

Orange Hawkweed is highly invasive, the largest infestations being in the counties around Duluth, where it first arrived in Minnesota. It has since been spreading south and west, and is likely very under-reported in the state. Large mono-cultures can be seen along roadsides into Aitkin county, at least. When not in bloom it resembles Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum), and often is found growing with it and its cousin Glaucous King-devil (Hieracium piloselloides).

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Wild River State Park, Chisago County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka and Pine counties

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: PETE in hillman
on: 2010-06-16 19:00:26

A field recently sprung up due to lack of mowing off cty 8 south of MN 27 about 6 blocks west side of road.

Posted by: Sharon in Grand Portage Band Reservation
on: 2010-07-25 12:30:38

Near the National Monument. I thought the bloom was very interesting and dramatic in color shading.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-07-26 06:49:22

Yes, Sharon, that is the case with many invasive species. Non-native plants are brought here and cultivated because of some value to humans, often their aesthetics. Then they escape into the wild and proliferate uncontrolled due to lack of natural predators. In some spots of NE MN the masses of orange hawkweed seemingly go on forever. Pretty maybe, but devastating to the natural order of things. :-(

Posted by: Donna in Two Harbors
on: 2011-05-29 20:46:14

In a field just outside of town. I have been photographing it every day. It's lovely.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-05-29 20:48:01

Donna, I will just say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can't see something like orange hawkweed as anything but an evil weed when I see it take over entire fields. :( We spotted a few plants in one of our favorite natural areas today. How long before it takes over, I can't say, but I do know that it will spread, and rapidly.

Posted by: Victoria in Shakopee, Scott County, Minnesota
on: 2011-06-09 14:49:00

Just found a new small patch of these guys in Shakopee. Yanking them out for sure!!!

Posted by: Gary in St Joseph Mn
on: 2011-06-13 21:58:38

I have had, for years a few plants in my yard, I suppose they were controlled by mowing. I am trying to convert the edge of my yard to native prairie and now I have a lot of it. Still not as big of problem as the bluegrass but still a problem. Sounds like I need some Round Up. Gary

Posted by: Nia in Silverwood Park, New Brighton
on: 2011-06-13 23:52:49

Photographed it, thinking it was Indian Paintbrush. Fall 2010.

Posted by: Roberta in Makinen MN
on: 2011-06-26 01:05:11

Field of it at the Eli Wirtanen Historic Finnish Farmstead. I took lots of pictures because there were also a lot of butterflies in that field. Then I go to your site for an ID of the flowers. Kind of disappointed now :(

Posted by: Micah in NE Minnesota
on: 2011-08-05 02:07:48

Found lots and lots of Orange Hawkweed in NE Minnesota this June, 2011, all along the Superior shore line and inland.

Posted by: Jill in Itasca County, Hwy 1 east of Effie, MN
on: 2011-08-09 09:31:20

Large stand along Highway 1 east of Effie photographed in late June.

Posted by: S. Pulju in Lake County
on: 2011-08-17 17:04:10

This is a horrible weed that has created a mat covering the lawn area of my property in Lake County. Mowing has actually encouraged its spread and it has crowded out the wild strawberries that once thrived there. A tip given to me by Michael Lynch the Invasive Species Coordinator of Cook County was to use fertilizer since this plant likes the thinner poor soils of North East Minnesota. I have also seen it growing on a friend's property in Columbus (Anoka Co).