# Canada hawkweed (*Hieracium umbellatum*)

Canada hawkweed is a bright yellow flower that blooms in the summer. It grows in fields and along roadsides, making the world a little more colorful!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Canada hawkweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Canada_Hawkweed.jpg&width=800)

Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canada_Hawkweed.jpg)

## Appearance

The Canada hawkweed has clusters of bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers, often arranged in an umbrella shape. Its long, narrow leaves are typically green, sometimes with a reddish tint on the stems. This clustered structure helps distinguish it from single-headed dandelions.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Hieracium

## Interesting facts

- It can grow almost anywhere, even in cracks in sidewalks and disturbed soil!
- Its stems sometimes look fuzzy, like tiny green caterpillars are crawling up!
- Some hawkweeds can make seeds without needing pollen from another plant!
- The plant's name comes from old beliefs that hawks ate it to improve eyesight!

## Special abilities

- **Rapid Reproduction:** Canada hawkweed can produce many lightweight seeds, allowing it to spread quickly over new areas.
- **Resilient Roots:** Canada hawkweed has strong, deep roots that help it survive dry spells and grow in poor soil.
- **Adaptive Growth:** Canada hawkweed can adjust its height, growing tall in sunny spots or shorter in crowded areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 20-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Western honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Important native pollinator
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers unless an adult says it's okay!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Canada hawkweed?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Canada hawkweed?

30-150 cm

### How wide does Canada hawkweed spread?

20-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Canada hawkweed?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Canada hawkweed bloom?

Summer

### Is Canada hawkweed edible?

No

### Is Canada hawkweed toxic?

None

### What is Canada hawkweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Canada hawkweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-hawkweed)