Wildflower Walk

  Meet Hieracium aurantiacum - Orange Hawkweed.   

Technically a non-native this happens to be an import from Eurasia and is an alpine plant.  It grows throughout Wisconsin in pastures, disturbed fields and along roadside ditches.  Like its yellow Canada cousin this member of the aster family takes its name from the folklore that hawks ate this plant to improve their eyesight.      

It is also called the Devil's Paintbrush as its single stem is topped with a red orange color resembling a paint brush.      

It's now naturalized all over North American and all over here.

 

Wildflower Walk

Meet Hieracium kalmia – Canada Hawkweed.  One of seven species of hawkweed that grows in Wisconsin. Technically a non-native this species has a cool feature.  The flowers close at night and on cloudy days.

The common name - Hawkweed - came from the folklore belief that hawks ate the flowers to improve their vision.       

Like related members of the aster family this variety is now naturalized all over North American and all over here.

Yellow Bloom

Meet Hieracium kalmia – Canada Hawkweed.  One of seven species of hawkweed that grows in Wisconsin.          

Technically a non-native this species has a cool feature.  The flowers close at night and on cloudy days.

The common name - Hawkweed - came from the mistaken belief that hawks ate the flowers to improve their vision.       

Like related members of the aster family this variety is now naturalized all over North American and all over here.