Orange Hawkweed

Orange hawkweed (also known as devil’s paintbrush, red devil, and grim-the-collier) is one of those flowering plants that is both beautiful and considered an invasive weed at the same time. It is native to Europe and has made it around the world because flower enthusiast wanted its bright red and orange flowers.

Along with it’s pretty flowers orange hawkweed is easy to grow, tolerant of a variety of climates and conditions, and is a perennial. It can grow just fine in rocky or acidic soils, full sun or partial shade, and frosty or snow conditions. It is very adaptable and has more than one method of multiplying that includes spreading by runners or by seed.

Orange hawkweed has shallow, fibrous root with leaves that are hairy, spatula shaped, up to 5 inches long. Stems are usually leafless, although occasionally a small leaf appears near the midpoint. Stems may reach a height of 1 foot and bear up to thirty ½ inch flower heads near the top. Flowers are red to orange and appear in late May or June. Stems and leaves exude a milky latex when cut or broken. Seeds are tiny and plumed.

Damage from Orange Hawkweed:

Hawkweed plants have extensive stolons that create a dense mat of hawkweed plants that nearly eliminates all other vegetation. It thrives in disturbed areas like roadsides, gravel pits, pastures, etc. and can invade forested areas because it’s somewhat shade tolerant. It is also unpalatable to animals and crowds out the more palatable plants.

No biological control agents are available. When selective herbicides are applied in the spring and followed with nitrogen fertilizer then grass competition can keep this weed suppressed. Note: Read the herbicide directions for proper application. You can also pull by hand if the orange hawkweed has not spread to densely or in too wide an area.