Hawkweed

hawkweedPanicled hawkweed (Hieracium paniculatum)
Cluster of bright orange and yellow Hieracium aurantiacum flowers with fringed petals, blooming on a green meadow background.
orange hawkweedCluster of flower heads of orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum). 

Hawkweed, (genus Hieracium), genus of more than 100 species of weedy herbs of the aster family (Asteraceae), native to temperate regions of the world. Mouse-ear hawkweed (H. pilosella), orange hawkweed (H. aurantiacum), and common hawkweed (H. vulgatum) are widely distributed weeds.

Close-up of a bright yellow common hawkweed flower, Hieracium vulgatum, with pointed petals against a blurred green background.
common hawkweedClose-up of the flower head of common hawkweed (Hieracium vulgatum) in the south of France.

Some species are cultivated as garden ornamentals for their attractive flower clusters. They are variously known as devil’s paintbrush, golden lungwort, mouse-ear, rattlesnake weed, and shaggy, orange, or narrow-leaved hawkweed.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
Citation Information
Article Title: Hawkweed
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 14 November 2026
Access Date: November 14, 2026