Scorzoneroides autumnalis
autumn hawkbit
Overview
Scorzoneroides autumnalis is a herbaceous perennial in the daisy family, forming a flat basal rosette of leaves from which slender, branched flowering stems rise 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall. The rosette leaves are 1-6 inches (2.5-15 cm) long, narrow, and deeply pinnately lobed with the lobes pointing backward. From midsummer into autumn the wiry, leafless, sometimes branched stems carry yellow, dandelion-like flower heads 0.5-1.5 inches (1.2-3.5 cm) across, made up entirely of strap-shaped ray florets; the undersides of the outer florets are often tinged reddish. The heads close in dull weather and open in sun, and each is followed by a tuft of feathery pappus that carries the seed on the wind. The plant grows in grassland, meadows, lawns, roadsides, and waste ground on a range of soils. It spreads readily by wind-borne seed and can persist in mown turf by flowering on short stems. It tolerates poor soil and mowing but adds little structure outside its flowering season.
Native Range
Native to Europe and parts of western Asia, where it grows in meadows, pastures, lawns, and disturbed ground. It has naturalised in North America and other temperate regions, often appearing in lawns and along roadsides.Suggested Uses
Grown in wildflower meadows, naturalistic lawns, and pollinator plantings, where its late flowers draw bees and hoverflies into autumn. It suits low-input grassland and verge plantings on poor soils. Elsewhere it appears mainly as a self-sown lawn and meadow plant rather than a chosen ornamental.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
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