Youngia japonica aka Japanese Hawksbeard

Youngia japonica is a herb in the daisy family, Asteraceae. People call it Japanese hawkweed or Oriental false hawksbeard. NC State places its origin in tropical and subtropical Asia. Kew's supplied range record lists New Guinea too. It grows across the southeastern United States and Texas. Its range reaches Pennsylvania. In Japan, it grows along roads and in fields. It also grows on waste ground there.

This plant grows fast and most often lives one year. Kew also records a biennial, or two-year, life cycle. Plants may stay green and live through the year. Most flower stems reach 0.5–1.25 feet [0.15–0.38 metres]. Some reach 3 feet [0.91 metres]. The straight stems branch near the top. They tend to bear few leaves, though some have up to three. Young plants form a low rosette, a ring of leaves. This forms before the flower stalk rises.

The pale green leaves have hairs and lobed edges. Each simple leaf has a broad tip and narrower base. Rosette leaves measure 3–6 inches long and 1–3 inches wide. Leaves higher on the stem are narrow and lack stalks. Torn leaves release white, milky sap. Young rosettes can look much like dandelions or sowthistles. This makes them hard to tell apart before stems grow.

Small yellow flower heads bloom in spring, summer, and fall. Each head spans about half an inch. The florets are ligulate: they have narrow, strap-shaped parts. Their tips may turn dark brown or black. Branched stems hold the heads above the leaves. The flowers draw pollinators, such as Burnsius skipper butterflies. Brown fruits called achenes follow the flowers. Each has a white pappus, a tuft of hairs. Wind carries these fruits away and helps the plant spread.

NC State lists part shade and dappled light as suitable. It grows in sand, loam, and clay. It can grow across a broad pH range. The listed soils stay moist or turn wet at times. NC State gives USDA zones 5–10. PFAF leaves British hardiness uncertain. In gardens, weed spread is the main concern, not upkeep for looks. The North Carolina Invasive Plant Council lists it as invasive. Stopping seed set helps limit its spread. People use young leaves for food, raw or cooked. PFAF reports folk uses for coughs, fever, boils, and snakebites. These records do not prove that treatments work or are safe. PFAF lists no known hazards. This is not a full safety assessment.