Meadow Hawkweed - Hieracium caespitosum

Above: Meadow Hawkweed in the Curtis Prairie in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on June 7, 2022.

Meadow Hawkweed - Hieracium caespitosum (Introduced/Naturalized)

Meadow Hawkweed has a low rosette of basal leaves at the base of the plant from which a single flowering stalk grows from 6" - 2 1/2' tall. The stalk terminates in a tight cluster of 5-30 flowerheads. Each flowerhead is 1/2 - 3/4" across, consisting of numerous yellow rays that may or may not have teeth at the tips.

Meadow Hawkweed grows in full or partial sun in dry conditions. Disturbed sites.

Above: Meadow Hawkweed leaves (growing only at the base of the plant) and stem. The stem is very hairy.

Note: Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosumis) is often difficult to distinguish from Tall Hawkweed/Glaucous King-devil (Hieracium piloselloides). One noteable difference is that Tall Hawkweed often has stems that are waxy smooth at the base and has only have a few hairs near the flower cluster. However, the stem of Meadow Hawkweed is very hairy.

Other names: Field Hawkweed, Yellow king-devil.

Blooms May - September.

For more information on Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum), visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Meadow Hawkweed - Hieracium caespitosum.