Orange Hawkweed

Orange Hawkweed

Orange hawkweed is a type of plant that is originally from Europe. However, it has become a pest in Colorado and is considered a weed. It may look beautiful, but there is damage behind the beauty.

What Is Orange Hawkweed?

Orange hawkweed produces flowers that have deep orange petals on the outside and blend to yellow towards the center. The rosette leaves can be 4-6in in length, with margins that are finely toothed. A plant can grow to as high as 20ins, with 5-35 heads. The plant has the appearance of dandelions, but orange and yellow rather than the typical green. You can also see a milky juice come from the plant. You’ll find the weed across alpine meadows, in yards, and across ski-fields or grasslands. It can cope with varying conditions, making it resistant across the Rocky Mountain regions.
What’s the Problem?
Orange hawkweed is a weed. The clue is in the name! While it may look beautiful, it takes over the whole land. It displaces vegetation and makes it problematic for wildlife to forage. Natural areas are affected because it’s so easy for the weed to get out of private gardens. Sites are monitored for eight years after removal, because it easily spreads. Other vegetation is quickly killed, as the plant has more extensive root systems that take up all the nutrients.
The plant is now one of the “List A” Noxious Weed species in Colorado. If you see it in your garden, you need to get rid of it by law. The good news is there are plenty of ways to manage the weed and companies take the spread of the weed seriously, helping you get the right help straight away. Experts will also take steps to make sure the weeds don’t return in the future. Contact SprayTech for orange hawkweed noxious weed control, (720)248-0000.