Leafy hawkweed

The leafy hawkweed is a perennial herb with abundant narrow leaves. It grows from 5 cm to 1 m high. Yellow flowers grow in groups and bloom spectacularly in July and September.

It is found in barren habitats, sandy beaches, gravel beaches and rock lands, on rocks, bright slope forests and dry heaths. It is often quite abundant in man-made dry, sandy, and gritty places such as roadsides and tracks, gravel quarries and verges. Its range covers Europe, Asia and North America.

The hawkweed species includes thousands of subspecies. The leafy hawkweed varies in size, shape, hairiness and number of flowers. At the end of the summer, when other flowers have already died, the leafy hawkweed still offers nectar.