Story of the Weeds: Orange & Meadow Hawkweed
Weed Name and Identification
Common Names: Orange Hawkweed, Meadow Hawkweed
Scientific Names: Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange), Hieracium caespitosum (Meadow)
Bright and deceptively pretty, hawkweeds are no friend to healthy pasture. Orange hawkweed is easy to spot with its vivid orange flowers, while meadow hawkweed bears sunny yellow blooms resembling dandelions. Both form dense mats of basal leaves and spread aggressively via seeds, stolons (above-ground runners), and rhizomes (underground stems), and even adventitious root buds, making it a persistent and adaptive invader. Plants typically grow 30–60 cm tall and exude a milky sap when damaged. Hawkweeds are part of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and are closely related to dandelion, chicory, prickly lettuce, and sowthistle, species that also tend to thrive in stressed or disturbed pasture conditions.
These hawkweeds are listed as noxious weeds in many regions due to their invasiveness and competitive nature.
What They Indicate About Soil
Hawkweeds tend to invade where pastures are under stress. Their presence suggests:
Low soil fertility, especially low nitrogen
Low organic matter, reducing microbial activity and nutrient holding capacity
Compacted or disturbed soils, where desirable forage is struggling
Dry, well-drained, coarse-textured soils
Overgrazed or bare patches, lacking competitive ground cover
They thrive in weakened swards, often filling gaps left by lost perennial forages. Their spread can also be aided by wind-blown seed and human or animal movement.
“Orange hawkweed prefers well-drained, coarse-textured soils with low organic matter. It is commonly found in meadows, pastures, roadsides, clearcuts, forest openings and disturbed sites.” – British Columbia Invasive Species Council
Ecological Role
As hardy pioneer plants, hawkweeds quickly cover bare or degraded ground. Their dense mats suppress erosion, but also exclude native plants and reduce biodiversity. In some areas, they form near-monocultures, replacing diverse grasslands with a mat of unpalatable foliage and fibrous roots.
While they do attract some pollinators, their overall ecological value in pastures is low compared to healthy forage systems.
Livestock Interaction
Palatability: Variable. While some studies show cattle and sheep can digest hawkweed well, field observations suggest that palatability is inconsistent, and it may be selectively avoided in diverse pastures.
Nutritive Value: Hawkweeds in the meadow hawkweed complex show moderate to high nutritional value and digestibility.
Impact on Pasture: Despite these traits, hawkweeds often displace more valuable forage species, especially under overgrazing, reducing pasture diversity and resilience over time.
Wildlife: Deer and elk have also been observed consuming hawkweed buds and foliage.
Bottom line: Hawkweed isn't toxic, and it may provide some grazing value, but its tendency to dominate over time makes it a poor substitute for balanced, competitive forage mixes.
Management and Replacement Strategies
Integrated management is key to controlling hawkweed. Tactics should focus on weakening the weed while rebuilding soil health and forage competition.
Soil & Pasture Management
Soil test to assess pH, compaction, and nutrient levels.
Apply amendments (e.g. fertilizer, compost, manure, lime) to restore fertility and boost competition.
Overseed with competitive species to close gaps and crowd out regrowth.
Grazing & Mechanical Control
Avoid overgrazing, especially in spring when hawkweed begins spreading.
Use rotational grazing to support strong pasture cover.
Mowing before seed set may reduce spread, but rarely controls hawkweed alone. Low rosettes are often missed, and disturbance may trigger more vegetative growth.
Hand-digging can work for small patches, but roots and stolons must be fully removed.
Caution: Mowing or digging can sometimes stimulate hawkweed growth instead of suppressing it. Use these methods only as part of a broader control plan, and monitor regrowth closely.
Mowing may miss low-lying rosettes and trigger more vegetative spread.
Digging or tilling can fragment stolons and rhizomes, leading to new plants unless all roots are removed.
Chemical Control
Selective herbicides like aminopyralid, picloram, or combinations with 2,4-D can control hawkweed when applied in spring at the rosette or early bolting stage. Add a surfactant to help herbicide stick to hairy leaves. Use caution, some products may harm legumes or nearby broadleaf plants. Follow label directions and local regulations, especially on public or Crown land.
Recommended Replacement Forages
Once hawkweed pressure is reduced, reseed with species that are:
Dense-rooted and competitive
Adapted to local soil and moisture conditions
Try combinations such as:
Perennial ryegrass or meadow brome for grazing-tolerant cover
Chicory and plantain for deep rooting and gap-filling
White clover and birdsfoot trefoil for nitrogen-fixing and palatable forage
These species help suppress hawkweed regrowth and restore soil function.
Sources and Further Reading
One Page Guide
