Hieracium umbellatum - Hawkweed

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.75
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Asia and N. America.

Hieracium umbellatum (Hawkweed) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.75m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Hawkweed will flower in January to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Apomictic

Soil Information

Hawkweed will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
Hawkweed prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Hawkweed can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Roadsides, banks, open woods, copses, heaths and rocks, mainly in lowland areas[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained low-fertility soil, neutral or acid, and a sunny position[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Young leaves[105, 177]. No further details are given except that the sub-species H. umbellatum japonicum is used.

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
One report says that the plant has medicinal uses but gives no details[145].

• Miscellany - Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring or autumn[238]. Division in spring or autumn[238]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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