Flower profile

Orange hawkweed

Pilosella aurantiaca

Introduced in the lower 48

Orange hawkweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 9 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

33states

9of our state lists

21,996U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Alaska and Montana. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Alaska: Prohibited noxious weed (as Hieracium aurantiacum); Montana: Priority 2A noxious weed). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{11 AAC 34.020 ARM 4.5.206–210}

Quick look

Pilosella aurantiaca is a perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to mountainous regions of Europe and has been widely introduced elsewhere, where it is invasive in parts of North America, New Zealand, and Australia.
From Wikipedia's article Pilosella aurantiaca, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 33 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
In Wisconsin, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,945 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #48 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,906 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #40 among the 109 flowers on our Wisconsin list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,673 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #42 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. ^iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,523 records)

Bloom time in each of our 9 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Michigan	Introduced	June–September	2,945
Wisconsin	Introduced	May–September	2,906
Minnesota	Introduced	June–October	2,673
New York	Introduced	May–September	2,433
Maine	Introduced	June–September	1,929
Vermont	Introduced	June–September	1,884
New Hampshire	Introduced	June–September	1,612
Alaska	Introduced	June–September	998
Montana	Introduced	June–August	630

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Minnesota. ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Maine: Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. ^{Maine rare plant list}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
New Hampshire: Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. ^{NH Ncr 312}
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alaska.
Montana: No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Montana.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records orange hawkweed in 33 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Brown, Clark, Door, Forest, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano, Taylor.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Anoka, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake, Pine, Polk, Sherburne, St. Louis, Washington, Winona.

More Michigan flowers

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–October

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: August–October

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–October

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HIAU.
iNaturalist, Pilosella aurantiaca: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Pilosella aurantiaca (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
Minnesota: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300).
Minnesota: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026).
New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020).
New Hampshire: NH Prohibited Invasive Species List (Agr 3800, Table 3800.1).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Pilosella aurantiaca (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Melanie Cayon via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.