Pilosella caespitosa
meadow hawkweed
Overview
Pilosella caespitosa is a low, rosette-forming perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae), sending up nearly leafless flowering stalks 10-36 inches (25-90 cm) tall. The basal leaves form a flat rosette, are lance-shaped, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, and covered with stiff bristly hairs on both sides. The stems, leaves, and flower stalks are clothed in blackish bristly hairs and exude a milky sap when broken. From late spring into summer, clusters of 5-30 yellow dandelion-like flower heads, each about 0.5-0.75 inch (12-18 mm) across, open at the stalk tips. The plant spreads aggressively by above-ground runners (stolons), shallow rhizomes, and wind-blown seed, forming dense mats that crowd out pasture and native plants. It is listed as a noxious weed across much of the northern United States and Canada. P. caespitosa grows in meadows, pastures, roadsides, lawns, and disturbed ground on a range of soils.
Native Range
Native to Europe, Pilosella caespitosa has been introduced to North America, where it has naturalized and become invasive across the northeastern and northwestern United States and much of Canada. It grows in meadows, pastures, fields, roadsides, lawns, and clearings, often on poor or disturbed soils.Suggested Uses
It is not grown as an ornamental and is classed as a noxious, invasive weed across much of North America. There is no garden use for it, and effort centers on removing it and restoring competing vegetation. In its native European range it occurs in natural grasslands and meadows.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10" - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowers open from late spring into midsummer, generally May to July, in clusters at the stalk tips. Individual heads bloom for a few days, and the plant can flower again later in the season. Seeds form readily, often without cross-pollination, and disperse on the wind.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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