Hawkweeds - Hieraciums (Hieracium species)

Hawkweeds are small herbs with daisy-like flowers. All hawkweeds in the Hieracium genus are prohibited matter except for wall hawkweed (Hieracium murorum)

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How does this weed affect you?

Hawkweeds form dense mats that smother the ground. They are a significant threat to biodiversity in the alpine regions in Australia. Hawkweeds: 

• outcompete native plants especially native grasses in alpine regions 
• reduce food and habitat for native animals 
• compete with pastures and reduce grazing productivity 
• invade gardens and roadsides. 

What does it look like?

Worldwide there are about 800 species of Hieracium. Only one species has been found in Australia, wall hawkweed (Hieracium murorum) and this is the only species of Hieracium not listed as prohibited matter in NSW. 

Hawkweeds in the Hieracium genus are varied but have some common features: 

• perennial low growing herbs 
• leaves are in a rosette at the base of the plant 
• flowers are yellow (or rarely white), daisy-like 
• have achenes (dry one seeded fruit), mostly 2.5–5 mm long, ribbed with a whitish or yellowish pappus. 
• often have stolons that produce daughter plants. 

Where are they found?

The only species of Hieracium that has been found in Australia is wall hawkweed, which was found at Katoomba in 1998 and Mount Irvine in 2006. 

Hawkweeds are native to cooler regions of Europe, Asia, North and South America and northern Africa. 

What type of environment does it grow in? 

Hawkweeds grow in alpine, subalpine and cool temperate regions.

How does it spread?

Hawkweeds can reproduce via seeds and by stolons. The seeds can be moved by: 

• wind and water 
• sticking to boots, clothing and camping or other recreational equipment 
• attaching to animals 
• vehicles, ski machinery or slashers 
• contaminated seed. 

References

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 23 September 2022 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Hieracium 

Williams, N.S.G. & Holland, K.D. (2007). The ecology and invasion history of hawkweeds (Hieracium species) in Australia, Plant Protection Quarterly, 22(2): 76-80 

More information

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Control

Please do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself. Report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW by calling the helpline listed at the top of this page immediately. 

NSW DPI will lead an initial response for the treatment and disposal of the plant to stop it from spreading. 

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 14558 Expires 30/06/2024
Clopyralid 300 g/L (Lontrel®)
Rate: 5 mL in 1 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application only for National Parks and non-agricultural adjoining lands. Only for use by NPWS employees and contractors, See permit for further critical comments.
Withholding period: 1-12 weeks (see label).
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 14928 Expires 30/09/2024
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 250-500 mL per 100 L plus BS 1000 or equivalent at 100 mL per 100 L
Comments: Spray actively growing plants before flowering. Do not apply more than once per season. See permit for critical comments.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 14928 Expires 30/09/2024
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 250-500 mL per 100 L plus BS 1000 or equivalent at 100 mL per 100 L
Comments: Spray actively growing plants before flowering. Do not apply more than once per season. See permit for critical comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 14301 Expires 31/07/2026
Picloram 20 g/kg (Tordon® Granules)
Rate: 45 g/m2
Comments: Granular application only in Kosciuszko National Park and lands in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area. See permit for further critical comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
All of NSW	Prohibited Matter A person who deals with prohibited matter or a carrier of prohibited matter is guilty of an offence. A person who becomes aware of or suspects the presence of prohibited matter must immediately notify the Department of Primary Industries All species in the genus Hieracium are Prohibited Matter except for Hieracium murorum (wall hawkweed).

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Reviewed 2024