Leontodon hispidus aka Rough Hawkbit

Leontodon hispidus is also known as rough hawkbit. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. This plant lives for more than two years. It comes from Europe, with a range reaching east to the Caucasus. It is native to Britain and Ireland. Records also place it in parts of temperate western Asia. It grows in meadows and along road verges. These sites often have lime-rich soil. Such open, grassy spots suit its need for sun.

The plant forms a small clump. Its leaves form a basal rosette, a ring at ground level. The leaves have lobes and coarse hairs. The plant sheds its leaves; its foliage is deciduous. Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall. Their spread reaches about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres]. RHS gives two to five years for plants to reach full size. Bare stalks rise above the leaves and do not branch. They bear yellow flower heads that look like small dandelions. The plant blooms through summer and into early autumn.

Give rough hawkbit full sun and soil that drains well. RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It grows in neutral or alkaline soil but prefers alkaline soil. Its listed soil moisture range is dry to moist. An open site suits it. It also accepts sites with or without shelter. RHS rates it H5 for growing in Britain. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. These two systems rate how much cold plants can bear in different regions.

Rough hawkbit suits wildflower meadows and gardens for wildlife. It also fits loose, informal planting in cottage gardens. Its small spread leaves room for other meadow plants. Plants For A Future records its value for wildlife. RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. The plant needs no pruning. Sow seed in spring, or split clumps then. These care needs mean little work on suitable sites. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

You can eat young leaves raw or cooked. Plants For A Future notes limits to their taste and texture. Leaves may be available in late winter. The roasted root can take the place of coffee. The same source records past use of the herb as a diuretic. This means a means to increase urine flow. It also lists past uses for kidney complaints, dropsy and jaundice. These are records of past use, not proof that treatments work. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That does not prove safety for every person or pet.