presented by the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council

With its bright orange or yellow flower clusters, Orange Hawkweed is easily recognizable. Its hairy leaves arranged in a rosette are another easy ID characteristic.

Orange Hawkweed reproduces by seed, but also by sending above-ground runners called stolons, that in turn root down and grow new plants. The result is a dense mat that tends to crowd out other plan species (including lawns).

Orange Hawkweed is considered invasive because of its competitiveness, prolific seed production and vigorous vegetative growth leading to a drastic change in vegetation, loss in forage for stock, and loss of biodiversity. It forms dense stands that outcompete pasture and range species in natural and managed grasslands. As desirable forage plants are replaced by this somewhat unpalatable weed, productivity decreases and land values drop.

How to remove it:

Although application of fertilizers can help by increasing the competitive ability of more desirable species such as grasses, legumes and other beneficial forbs, herbicidecontrol (applied by a trained professional) is especially promising on small infestations to prevent further spread.