Rough Hawkweed
Hieracium scabrum (hi-er-uh-KEE-um SKAY-brum)
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. The plant 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. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Relative problem free but watch for apids, spider mites, leaf beetles, gall wasps and caterpillars. potential diseases are powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust.
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 58 attributes.