Hawksbeard, in the Asteraceae (daisy) family, is a weedy summer annual herb that can be found growing as an agricultural or environmental weed, and often persisting year-round. Seedlings form a rosette resembling a small sowthistle ( Sonchus spp.) but leaves are hairy. Upper leaves are more linear and lack a stalk, and a milky sap is emitted when leaves are torn. In contrast to dandelion, narrowleaf hawksbeard plants have leaves on the flowering stem, and plants can become highly branched. In the rosette stage (i.e., before the flowering stem has bolted upward), it is much trickier to differentiate between narrowleaf hawksbeard and dandelion. The inflorescence stalk is generally leafless (but occasionally with up to 3 leaves), branched at the top, and 6 to 15 inches (occasionally to 3 feet) tall. Flowers are yellow, and dandelion-like but only about 1/2 inch in diameter. Seed heads are dandelion-like, about 1/4 to 1/2 inches in diameter, and seeds are wind dispersed. Do not let plants go to seed. Hawksbeard appears to be well managed by available pre-emergence herbicides; however, herbicide efficacy rankings for this species are based on limited experimental data. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is weedy and listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all 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
Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Form & Appearance
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Spatulate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Rosette of light green, hairy leaves, upper leaves linear and lacking a stalk. Leaves are sometimes present on flowering stems. Emits a white, milky sap when damaged.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Orange
Flower value
Edible
Flower form
Cyme; Head
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Branched flowering stem between 1/2 and 3 ft. tall. Florets are ligulate 1/2 in. in diameter with many long, thin petals. The flowers are bright yellow and may be tipped with dark brown to black.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; White
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Brownish, with white pappus. Dispersed by the wind.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical & Subtropical Asia
Distribution
Found throughout the Southeast and Texas, and as far north as Pennsylvania.
Wildlife value
Attracts Burnsius butterflies which is a new genus of the checkered skipper.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
The young leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Hawksbeard has possible edible and medicinal properties.