Hieracium aurantiacum
Orange hawkweed, Orange Hawkweed
(c) Kieran Roy Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kieran Roy Powell · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange hawkweed) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by orange flowers and non-native status diagnostic.
Orange hawkweed is a naturalized perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, specifically near Grass Valley in Nevada County, in disturbed areas at approximately 300 meters elevation. Flowering in August, this plant produces vibrant orange-red flowers that often dry to a purple hue in dense to loose flat-topped clusters. Growing with hairy stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall, it spreads through numerous stolons and forms multiple leaf rosettes. Its leaves are primarily basal, oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 5 to 20 centimeters long, covered in long soft hairs and either entire or slightly toothed. The plant's distinctive stems are densely hairy and branched, with glandular peduncles supporting its striking orange flower heads.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; orange flowers and non-native status diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: +- 300 m.
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Hieracium aurantiacum blooms Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
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 aurantiacum native to California?
No. Hieracium aurantiacum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hieracium aurantiacum bloom?
Hieracium aurantiacum blooms Aug.
What plant family does Hieracium aurantiacum belong to?
Hieracium aurantiacum is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hieracium.
Is Hieracium aurantiacum invasive in California?
Hieracium aurantiacum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Hieracium aurantiacum grow in?
Hieracium aurantiacum grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.