# Oriental false hawksbeard (*Youngia japonica*) The Oriental false hawksbeard is a small, bright yellow flower that blooms in spring and summer. It grows in many places and is often found in gardens and fields, adding a splash of color to the landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Oriental false hawksbeard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Youngja_japonica2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sphl, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Youngja_japonica2.jpg) ## Appearance The Oriental false hawksbeard has bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with many narrow petals, often clustered at the top of slender stems. Its basal leaves form a rosette, sometimes with purplish veins. This distinguishes it from common dandelions. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Youngia ## Interesting facts - Even in winter, it can flower if the weather stays mild enough! - Its tough little seeds have tiny parachutes to fly on the wind! - This plant is a global traveler, found on almost every continent! - Wow! You can actually eat the young leaves of this plant! ## Special abilities - **Seed Spreader:** Oriental false hawksbeard can release tiny, fluffy seeds that catch the wind, helping it travel far and grow in many new places. - **Fast Grower:** Oriental false hawksbeard has a quick growth cycle, allowing it to rapidly colonize disturbed soil and quickly produce new flowers. - **Survival Sprout:** Oriental false hawksbeard can regrow from its root crown even after being cut, helping it bounce back in tough spots. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring through Fall, year-round in warm climates - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** Cotton leafworm (*Spodoptera litura*) — larvae feed on its leaves - **Eaten by:** Two-spotted spider mite (*Tetranychus urticae*) — as a food source for mites - **Parasitizes:** Hawksbeard rust (*Puccinia youngiae*) — causes rust disease on leaves ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Oriental false hawksbeard? 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 Oriental false hawksbeard? 10-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Oriental false hawksbeard? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Oriental false hawksbeard bloom? Spring through Fall, year-round in warm climates ### Is Oriental false hawksbeard edible? Yes ### Is Oriental false hawksbeard toxic? None ### What is Oriental false hawksbeard's lifecycle? Annual ### How is Oriental false hawksbeard pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Chambers County Courthouse Square Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chambers-county-courthouse-square-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Glen Echo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-echo-park) — Maryland, US · National Park - [National Tropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-tropical-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Oriental false hawksbeard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oriental-false-hawksbeard) ## 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*) --- Source: [Oriental false hawksbeard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oriental-false-hawksbeard)