Hawk herbs are a genus of which there are particularly many species. For laypeople, the differences are hard to notice. The wild herb, which is also fought as a weed, is often confused with dandelion. Interesting facts about the hawkweed species.
What types of hawkweed are there?
Habichtkräuter are a genus with around 850-1,000 species worldwide and 180 in Germany. The best-known species include common, smooth, forest and shaggy hawkweed as well as orange-red, meadow, small and Florentine hawkweed. The plants have bright yellow, orange or cream flowers.
Hawkweed species are difficult to identify
There are around 850 to 1,000 different species of hawkweed worldwide. There are 180 species in Germany. Identifying the individual species is very difficult, especially since new forms are constantly emerging through crossbreeding.
The genus of hawkweed is divided into two subgenera: true hawkweed (Hieracium subgen. Hieracium) and mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium subgen. Pilosella).
Known representatives of the common hawkweed
- Common Hawkweed
- Smooth Hawkweed
- Forest Hawkweed
- Shaggy Hawkweed
Mouse-ear Hawkweed species
- Orange Hawkweed
- Meadow hawkweed
- Little Hawkweed
- Florentine Hawkweed
Characteristics of Hawkweed
Hawk herbs belong to the daisy family. Most species form long taproots. Depending on the species, the plants only grow to a height of 5 to 20 centimeters, other species reach 1.5 meters.
The inflorescences consist of baskets on which there can be between 6 and 150 ray florets - depending on the respective species. The flowers are often bright yellow but can also be orange-red, white or cream.
The flowering period of the hawkweed begins in May and extends into September.
Caring for hawkweed in the garden
Hawhawkweed is a very robust plant. It is often grown in rock gardens. Here, however, cultivated forms tend to be planted that produce particularly large, but sterile flowers.
Hawhawkweed is not poisonous, but rather plays a role in natural medicine as a medicinal plant. It contains coumarins, flavonoids, mucilage and tannins. It is used to relieve stomach and intestinal complaints, cellulite and bleeding.
The plants are also edible for small animals.
Fighting hawkweed as a weed
Hawhawkweed tends to spread in the garden and especially in the lawn. There it displaces the grass plants with its rosettes. To combat this, you should ensure that no flowers and therefore no seeds can develop.
Dense stands must be plucked out by hand or destroyed with a weed killer (€25.00 on Amazon).
Tip
The hawkweed got its name because of its supposed healing properties to strengthen the eyes. Taking it should give the patient eyes like a hawk.