Yellow Hawkweed

Asteraceae

LIFE FORM: Perennial

NATIVITY: Europe

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

This plant is never more than a foot tall; rosettes of hairy leaves give rise to yellow flowers.

FLOWERS:

Bright yellow flowers in late spring through summer; later than dandelions.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Spreads by seeds, stolons, and rhizomes.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

This drought-tolerant species is common in neglected lawns and yardsand other habitats with poor soil. Prefers trampled lawns in public parks; neglected residential and commercial landscapes; minimally maintained public parks and open space; vacant lots and rubble dump sites; abandoned grasslands (meadows).

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Disturbance-adapted colonizer.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

This is a common summer weed in sunny, dry lawns.