Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast EpisodesGet To Know: Hawkweed
Season 1 Episode 11
How to Identify Hawkweed
Key Features:
- Botanical Name: Hieracium spp. (most commonly Hieracium pilosella, also called Pilosella officinarum)
- Common Names: Mouse-ear hawkweed, yellow hawkweed, king devil, devil’s paintbrush (orange-flowered types)
- Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)
Description:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 4–12 inches (10–30 cm) |
| Leaves | Oblong or spoon-shaped, covered in fine hairs, form a basal rosette |
| Stem | Leafless, hairy, often reddish or purplish, one flower per stalk |
| Flowers | Bright yellow, dandelion-like, bloom in late spring–summer |
| Growth Habit | Spreads via runners/stolons, forming dense mats |
Habitat:
- Dry, sandy soils, meadows, roadsides, rocky clearings
- Native to Europe and Asia, now naturalized in North America
The app that I use on my phone and recommend is Plantnet.
Historical Uses of Hawkweed
Ancient & Traditional Uses:
- The name “hawkweed” comes from the ancient belief (from Pliny the Elder) that hawks ate the plant to sharpen their eyesight.
- Used traditionally as a diuretic, lung remedy, and wound herb.
- Employed in European folk medicine for:
- Coughs and bronchitis
- Kidney and bladder issues
- Bleeding and wounds (applied topically)
- In Welsh and British herbal traditions, it was used as a tonic for the lungs and eyes.
Medicinal Benefits (Modern Herbalism)
1. Respiratory Support
- Acts as a mild expector
Published on 4 months, 1 week ago