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Picris spp.
oxtongue
Overview
Picris is a genus of roughly forty to fifty herbs in the daisy family Asteraceae, native across Europe, Asia, and Africa and widely naturalized elsewhere. The genus includes annual, biennial, and perennial species, all forming a basal rosette and erect, branched flowering stems 12-48 inches (30-120 cm) tall. Leaves and stems are rough to the touch, covered in stiff, often hooked or anchor-shaped bristles that catch on skin, a feature behind the common name oxtongue. The flower heads resemble those of dandelions and hawkweeds: each is composed entirely of yellow strap-shaped florets, 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) across, opening in branched clusters. Bloom runs from summer into autumn, after which heads produce many small seeds, most carried on a parachute of feathery hairs. Picris grows in grassland, roadsides, waste ground, and disturbed open soils, often on lime-rich substrates. Several species seed prolifically and behave as weeds well beyond their native range, so the genus is grown rarely and chiefly in wild-meadow or habitat settings rather than ornamental borders.
Native Range
Picris is native to temperate and subtropical Europe, Asia, and Africa, and several species have naturalized across the Americas, Australia, and beyond. It grows in grassland, roadsides, field margins, and disturbed ground, often on calcareous soils.Suggested Uses
Used occasionally in wildflower meadows, habitat plantings, and as a nectar source for bees and other insects. Grown mainly where its seeding can be contained rather than in formal beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
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