Rough Hawkbit Seeds (Leontodon hispidus)

Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) is a native perennial of dry grassland that grows 15 to 50cm tall. It forms a flat rosette of coarsely hairy, wavy-edged leaves, from which rise single, leafless, hairy stems each topped by a golden-yellow flower head, larger than a dandelion’s and often flushed red or orange on the outer florets. It flowers from June to October on grassland, rocky ridges and paths.

The flowers are a steady source of nectar and pollen for solitary bees, bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies over a long season, and the fluffy seed heads are taken by finches. It is a long-lived, deep-rooted perennial that tolerates grazing and cutting well, and it is a characteristic component of old chalk downland and species-rich hay meadows, filling the mid-summer gap with yellow.

It needs well-drained, low-fertility soil in full sun and is best on chalk, limestone or sandy ground, where it copes well with drought. Avoid rich, damp or shaded sites. It suits a chalk bank, a downland-style meadow, a dry verge or a thin lawn managed for flowers.

Sow in autumn onto bare or scarified ground, surface-sown and firmed in without covering. Seedlings form a rosette in year one and flower from the second summer. Cut or graze in late summer or autumn once seed has been shed, removing the cuttings to keep fertility low, and it will hold its place for many years. Combine with our 100% wildflower mixes or single species that share the same dry, sunny conditions.