Hieracium greenei
Greene's hawkweed
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hieracium greenei (Greene's hawkweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by dense hairiness and tan pappus distinctive.
Greene's hawkweed is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and high Cascade Ranges in dry montane forest slopes at elevations of 900 to 2,750 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in heads 8 to 12 millimeters long with up to 10 individual florets. Growing with stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall that are densely branched and covered in long, coarse hairs, it has a distinctive hairy appearance. Its basal and lower stem leaves are 5 to 10 centimeters long, oblong-oblanceolate with slightly toothed edges and dense, branching hairs that give the plant a soft, gray-green texture. The fruit is 4 to 5 millimeters long with a deep tan pappus 7 to 9 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; dense hairiness and tan pappus distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes in montane forest
Elevation: 900-2750 m
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Hieracium greenei blooms Jul-Sep.
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 greenei native to California?
Yes. Hieracium greenei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hieracium greenei bloom?
Hieracium greenei blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Hieracium greenei belong to?
Hieracium greenei is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hieracium.
What habitat does Hieracium greenei grow in?
Hieracium greenei grows in dry slopes in montane forest.
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.