Get To Know: Hawkweed

How to Identify Hawkweed

Key Features:

• Botanical Name: Hieracium spp. (most commonly Hieracium pilosella, also called Pilosella officinarum)
• Common Names: Mouse-ear hawkweed, yellow hawkweed, king devil, devil’s paintbrush (orange-flowered types)
• Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)

Description:

Feature	Details
Height	4–12 inches (10–30 cm)
Leaves	Oblong or spoon-shaped, covered in fine hairs, form a basal rosette
Stem	Leafless, hairy, often reddish or purplish, one flower per stalk
Flowers	Bright yellow, dandelion-like, bloom in late spring–summer
Growth Habit	Spreads via runners/stolons, forming dense mats

Habitat:

• Dry, sandy soils, meadows, roadsides, rocky clearings
• Native to Europe and Asia, now naturalized in North America

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Historical Uses of Hawkweed

Ancient & Traditional Uses:

• The name “hawkweed” comes from the ancient belief (from Pliny the Elder) that hawks ate the plant to sharpen their eyesight.
• Used traditionally as a diuretic, lung remedy, and wound herb.
• Employed in European folk medicine for:
  • Coughs and bronchitis
  • Kidney and bladder issues
  • Bleeding and wounds (applied topically)
• In Welsh and British herbal traditions, it was used as a tonic for the lungs and eyes.

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Medicinal Benefits (Modern Herbalism)

1. Respiratory Support

• Acts as a mild expectorant and astringent, useful in:
  • Chronic coughs
  • Bronchitis
  • Asthma
  • Whooping cough
• Helps to tighten and tone mucous membranes in the respiratory tract

2. Diuretic & Kidney Support

• Promotes urination and detoxification
• Used in traditional remedies for urinary tract infections, fluid retention, and edema

3. Antiseptic & Wound Healing

• Traditionally applied to cuts, scrapes, and skin irritations
• The leaves were often chewed or crushed into a poultice

4. Eye Health (Historical/Folk Use)

• Based on the hawk legend, some traditions used it in eye washes (diluted infusions), though this is more symbolic and anecdotal

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How to Use Hawkweed

Parts Used:

• Aerial parts: leaves, flowers, and stems (fresh or dried)

Common Preparations:

Form	Use
Infusion (tea)	Internal use for coughs, kidney health, respiratory cleansing
Tincture	Concentrated form for lung conditions or urinary tract support
Poultice or wash	For wounds, bruises, or minor bleeding
Syrup	Made from a strong infusion with honey for persistent coughs

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Basic Hawkweed Tea (Infusion) Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1–2 tsp dried hawkweed (or 2 tbsp fresh)
• 1 cup boiling water

Instructions:
Steep for 10–15 minutes. Strain and drink 1–3 times per day.

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Safety and Precautions

• Generally considered safe when used in moderate amounts.
• Not extensively studied in modern science, so use with care if pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medications.
• May enhance the effects of diuretics—monitor for dehydration.
• Avoid harvesting from roadside or polluted areas due to potential contamination.