Hieracium scouleri
Western hawkweed, Western Hawkweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Hieracium scouleri (Western hawkweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tall stature and numerous cauline leaves distinctive.
Western hawkweed is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada, northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in open woodlands and brushy areas at elevations of 300 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers in flat-topped clusters with 20 to 50 individual blooms. Growing with erect stems 35 to 100 centimeters tall, it has stems that range from nearly smooth to densely hairy with branching hairs. Its basal and cauline leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, lanceolate to oblanceolate, and may be glabrous or sparsely hairy with occasional branched hairs. The fruit is small, approximately 3 millimeters long, with a white or dull brown pappus 6 to 7 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; tall stature and numerous cauline leaves distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, brushy areas
Elevation: 300-2300 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Alberta, Wyoming, Utah
Bloom period
Hieracium scouleri blooms May-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 scouleri native to California?
Yes. Hieracium scouleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hieracium scouleri bloom?
Hieracium scouleri blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Hieracium scouleri belong to?
Hieracium scouleri is in the Asteraceae family, genus Hieracium.
What habitat does Hieracium scouleri grow in?
Hieracium scouleri grows in Open woodland, brushy areas.
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.