Hairy Hawkweed

Plant Info

Also known as:	Long-bearded Hawkweed
Scientific name:	Hieracium longipilum
Family:	Aster (Asteraceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; dry prairies
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	2 to 5 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Rice Creek Trail Corridor

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are about ½ inch across and look like small dandelions, with 40 to 90 yellow petals (ray flowers) with notched tips. Several flowers branch off the top of the stem.

Leaves and stem:

Most of the leaves surround the base of the stem. Basal leaves are up to 12 inches long, 1½ inches wide, with a rounded or blunt point at the tip, tapering at the base and densely covered in hairs up to an inch long. There are a few alternately attached leaves to about the midpoint of the main stem that are much smaller. The stem is densely covered with long stiff hairs.

Fruit:

Dark seeds about ¼ inch long with a tuft of light brown hair to carry them off in the wind.

More photos

• full length of plant, about 4½ feet tall

Photos taken at Wild River State Park, Center City, MN July 2007

Comments

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

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Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

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