Crepis biennis
rough Hawk's-beard
Overview
Crepis biennis is a biennial of the daisy family, forming a flat basal rosette in its first year and an erect, branched flowering stem 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall in its second. The stems are ribbed, roughly hairy toward the base, and branch in the upper part. Basal leaves are 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long, deeply lobed to runcinate with a rough, bristly surface; the stem leaves are smaller and clasp the stem with pointed basal lobes. Yellow flower heads, each 0.8-1.4 inches (20-35 mm) across and made up entirely of strap-shaped ray florets, open in loose branched clusters from June to July. Each head produces many narrow achenes topped with a white pappus that carries the seed on the wind. After seeding, the plant dies. It grows quickly once the rosette bolts, but the whole plant is short-lived and depends on regular seeding to keep a population going. Lower leaves wither as flowering proceeds.
Native Range
Native to much of Europe and extending into western Asia, and naturalised in some other regions. Grows in hay meadows, rough grassland, road verges, and field margins on moist, neutral to calcareous soils, mainly in lowlands and lower hills.Suggested Uses
Used in wildflower meadows, naturalistic grassland, and conservation seed mixes on neutral to calcareous soils. Sown or allowed to self-seed at low density among grasses, where it adds summer height of 1-4 feet (30-120 cm). Its short life and free seeding make it unsuited to formal borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly from June to July, with some heads opening into August in cooler seasons. Heads open in the morning and close by afternoon. The flowering period of an individual plant lasts about 4-6 weeks. Timing shifts later at higher elevations and in northern parts of the range.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight