# Wall hawkweed (*Hieracium murorum*)

Wall hawkweed is a cheerful little plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It loves to grow in rocky places and can often be found peeking out from between stones.

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

![Wall hawkweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hieracium_murorum_2006.05.14_13.27.21-p5140150.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Michael Becker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hieracium_murorum_2006.05.14_13.27.21-p5140150.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wall hawkweed has bright yellow, dandelion-like flower heads often growing on slender, hairy stems. Its basal leaves form a rosette, varying in shape and often tinged reddish underneath, setting it apart from true dandelions.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Each 'flower' is actually a collection of up to 100 tiny individual flowers called florets!
- Its ancient name, Hieracium, comes from 'hierax', meaning hawk, as people thought hawks ate it for good eyesight!
- This resilient plant can change its leaf shape and hairiness to adapt perfectly to different growing conditions!
- Young Wall hawkweed leaves can be foraged for salads, but they often have a distinctly bitter, peppery taste!

## Special abilities

- **Crack Conqueror:** Wall hawkweed can anchor itself in tiny rock crevices and thrive where other plants can't survive, showing great resilience.
- **Seed Sailor:** It has fluffy seeds designed to catch the wind, allowing it to travel far and spread quickly across new areas.
- **Clone Creator:** Wall hawkweed can create seeds without needing pollen, producing perfect genetic copies of itself to reproduce.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 10-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — important pollinator, seeks nectar
- **Eaten by:** Red slug (*Arion rufus*) — grazes on leaves and stems
- **Eaten by:** Pointed snail (*Cochlicella acuta*) — feeds on plant foliage

## Traits

- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [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.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or picking any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wall 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 Wall hawkweed?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Wall hawkweed spread?

10-30 cm

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

2-3 cm

### When does Wall hawkweed bloom?

Late spring to early fall

### Is Wall hawkweed edible?

Yes

### Is Wall hawkweed toxic?

None

### What is Wall hawkweed's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Grohman Narrows Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grohman-narrows-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · 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: [Wall hawkweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wall-hawkweed)