Hieracium glaucinum
Hieracium glaucinum · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant hieracium glaucinum: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, grayish to bluish
- Flowering
- June to August, yellow flowers
- Adult size
- 30 to 60 cm in height
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to -20°C)
- Origin
- Mountains of central and eastern Europe
- Soil type
- Well-drained, calcareous, dry to moderately moist
Care
Exposure
Install your bluish hawkweed in full sun, ideally in an open location. A sunny exposure promotes the bluish coloration of the foliage and generous flowering. It tolerates light partial shade but will be less vigorous.
Watering
Water moderately at planting to ensure establishment. Once established, this plant tolerates drought well and only needs occasional watering during prolonged dry periods. Avoid excessive moisture that would promote root rot.
Soil and preparation
Prepare well-drained, light, and rather calcareous soil. Bluish hawkweed thrives in rocky, stony terrain or on slopes. Enrich the soil with gravel or sand if the ground is too compact or too rich in organic matter.
Pruning and cutting
Prune lightly after flowering, in late summer, to encourage branching and maintain a compact shape. Remove spent flowers to prolong the flowering period. A cleanup of dead foliage in late winter is generally sufficient.
Fertilizer
Bluish hawkweed is undemanding and only needs a light mineral fertilizer application in spring, or none if the soil is properly prepared. Avoid fertilizers too high in nitrogen which would promote foliage development at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
This mountain plant is naturally hardy and rarely subject to diseases. Only excessive winter moisture can cause rot. Install it in well-drained soil and avoid stagnant water accumulation. Aphids may occasionally visit but cause no real harm.
Did you know?
The genus Hieracium, to which bluish hawkweed belongs, takes its name from ancient Greek « hierax » meaning « hawk ». According to medieval legend, birds of prey used these plants to improve their vision. This belief popularized the common name in French and has persisted for over two thousand years in traditional herbalism.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- SunflowerHelianthus annuus
- YarrowAchillea millefolium
- Ox-eye daisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
- Canadian goldenrodSolidago canadensis
- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.