# Hairy Hawkbit (*Leontodon saxatilis*)

The Hairy Hawkbit is a cheerful little flower that grows in grassy places. Its bright yellow blooms look like tiny suns and can be found in meadows and fields during spring and summer.

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

![Hairy Hawkbit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Leontodon_saxatilis_flowerhead9_NT_%2816497459196%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leontodon_saxatilis_flowerhead9_NT_%2816497459196%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Hairy Hawkbit has bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers, typically appearing singly on leafless stems. Its distinctive basal leaves are covered in stiff, bristly hairs, giving it a fuzzy texture and a grey-green hue.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Each sunny yellow flower head is actually made up of many tiny individual flowers!
- Its name 'Leontodon' means 'lion's tooth' because of its jagged leaves!
- The leaves are edible, but don't expect a sweet treat—they are quite bitter!
- These tough little plants can even grow out of cracks in city pavements!

## Special abilities

- **Deep Drinker:** Hairy Hawkbit has a deep taproot that helps it find water in dry, sandy soils to survive droughts.
- **Fuzzy Shield:** Hairy Hawkbit has bristly hairs on its leaves that reduce water loss and make them less appealing to hungry animals.
- **Wind Rider:** Hairy Hawkbit produces fluffy, parachute-like seeds that catch the wind to spread far and wide for new growth.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its sunny flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Marmalade Hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Visits flowers for nectar, helping spread pollen.
- **Eats:** Grey Field Slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Grazes on its leaves, especially the tender young ones.

## 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.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [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.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Hairy Hawkbit?

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 Hairy Hawkbit?

5-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Hairy Hawkbit?

1-2 cm

### When does Hairy Hawkbit bloom?

Late spring to autumn

### Is Hairy Hawkbit edible?

Yes

### Is Hairy Hawkbit toxic?

None

### What is Hairy Hawkbit's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Hairy Hawkbit pollinated?

Insect

## Where to spot

- [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park

## 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: [Hairy Hawkbit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-hawkbit)