Orange Hawkweed
Pilosella aurantiaca
Also listed as Hieracium aurantiacum
Also known as Fox-and-cubs, Venus' Paint-brush, Devil's Paint-brush
Climate Match for your location
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Orange hawkweed is a low-growing perennial groundcover with bright orange-red flowers and stoloniferous spreading habits. It thrives in sunny, dry conditions and can spread aggressively.
Why grow it
Orange hawkweed offers dense, low-growing coverage in nutrient-poor soils where many ornamentals struggle, making it useful for stabilizing slopes or filling gaps in xeric gardens. Compared to other Pilosella species, its bright orange-red flowers provide distinctive color in summer through early fall. It tolerates poor drainage and compacted soils better than most low-growing perennials, though it performs best with full sun and minimal fertility.
Watch out for
In cooler, moister climates, this plant may establish and spread more vigorously than in its native dry alpine habitat, potentially outcompeting slower-growing neighbors even in managed settings. Regular deadheading or cutting back after flowering can help prevent unwanted seedling establishment in adjacent plantings. Performance varies significantly by regional climate and soil moisture, so site observation during the first season is advisable before expanding its use widely in a garden.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Central European Alps
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Orange hawkweed is a low-growing perennial groundcover with bright orange-red flowers and stoloniferous spreading habits. It thrives in sunny, dry conditions and can spread aggressively.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Orange Hawkweed grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Orange hawkweed offers dense, low-growing coverage in nutrient-poor soils where many ornamentals struggle, making it useful for stabilizing slopes or filling gaps in xeric gardens. Compared to other Pilosella species, its bright orange-red flowers provide distinctive color in summer through early fall. It tolerates poor drainage and compacted soils better than most low-growing perennials, though it performs best with full sun and minimal fertility.
Watch out for
In cooler, moister climates, this plant may establish and spread more vigorously than in its native dry alpine habitat, potentially outcompeting slower-growing neighbors even in managed settings. Regular deadheading or cutting back after flowering can help prevent unwanted seedling establishment in adjacent plantings. Performance varies significantly by regional climate and soil moisture, so site observation during the first season is advisable before expanding its use widely in a garden.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Central European Alps
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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