Hawkweed »The species at a glance

Hawkweed species are difficult to identify

There are around 850 to 1,000 different species of hawkweed around the world. There are 180 species in Germany. The determination of the individual species is very difficult, especially since new forms are created again and again through crossings.

The genus of the hawkweed is divided into two subgenera: Real hawkweed (Hieracium subgen. Hieracium) and mouse-eared hawkweed (Hieracium subgen. Pilosella).

Well-known representatives of the hawkweed

• Common hawkweed
• Smooth hawkweed
• Forest hawkweed
• Shaggy hawkweed

Mouse-eared hawkweed species

• Orange-red hawkweed
• Meadow hawkweed
• Little hawkweed
• Florentine hawkweed

Characteristics of the hawkweed

Hawkweeds belong to the daisy family. Most species form long tap roots. The plants are only 5 to 20 centimeters high, depending on the species, while other species reach 1.5 meters.

The inflorescences consist of cups that can hold between 6 and 150 ray florets - depending on the species. The flowers are often bright yellow but can also Orange red, Be white or cream in color.

The hawkweed blooms in May and continues into September.

Grooming hawkweed in the garden

Hawkweed is a very robust plant. It is often grown in rock gardens. Here, however, cultivated forms are planted that produce particularly large, sterile flowers.

Hawkweed is not poisonous, but plays a role in natural medicine as a medicinal plant. It contains coumarins, flavonoids, mucilage and tannins. It is used to relieve gastrointestinal complaints, cellulite and bleeding.

The plants are also edible for small animals.

Fight hawkweed as a weed

Hawkweed tends to spread in the garden and especially in the lawn. There it displaces the grass plants with its rosettes. To the Combat you should make sure that no flowers and therefore no seeds can develop.

Dense stands have to be cut out by hand or destroyed with a weed control agent.