Hieracium argutum
Southern hawkweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hieracium argutum (Southern hawkweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by geographic range and habitat distinctive.
Southern hawkweed is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, northern Channel Islands, and Transverse Ranges in dry woodland slopes at elevations below 1,530 meters. Flowering from June to October, this plant produces yellow flowers in open panicle-like clusters with multiple heads. Growing with stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall that are proximally glabrous and distally branched-hairy, it has a distinctive appearance. Its lance-oblong leaves are 8 to 16 centimeters long, featuring widely spaced wavy teeth and covered in coarse branched hairs, with smaller cauline leaves restricted to the lower stem. The fruit is 2 to 3 millimeters long with a white pappus 3.5 to 5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; geographic range and habitat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, woodland
Elevation: < 1530 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Hieracium argutum blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Pilosella: Pilosella has stolons (runners) spreading along the ground; Hieracium lacks these horizontal stems.; vs Daucus: Daucus has umbel flower clusters and carrot-scented foliage; Hieracium has dandelion-like heads and lacks carrot scent.; vs Adelinia: Adelinia has beaked seeds; Hieracium seeds attach directly to pappus without any beak.; vs Heterotheca: Heterotheca has ray and disk flowers (daisy-like); Hieracium has only strap-shaped flowers.; vs Rafinesquia: Rafinesquia has smooth or sparsely hairy stems; Hieracium is densely long-hairy especially below.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hieracium argutum native to California?
Yes. Hieracium argutum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hieracium argutum bloom?
Hieracium argutum blooms Jun-Oct.
What plant family does Hieracium argutum belong to?
Hieracium argutum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hieracium.
What habitat does Hieracium argutum grow in?
Hieracium argutum grows in dry slopes, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.