What growing conditions does White Hawkweed prefer?

White Hawkweed does well in part sun to part shade with low water needs. It is often found along dry forest edges, open woodlands, and mountain slopes where soil drains quickly.

When does White Hawkweed bloom?

White Hawkweed generally flowers from June through August, sending up slender stalks topped with small white flower heads.

What pollinators visit White Hawkweed?

Bees and flies are the main visitors to White Hawkweed's small white blooms during its summer flowering period.

How much water does White Hawkweed need once established?

White Hawkweed tolerates low water conditions and is well suited to drier sites once it is established, making it a good fit for naturalized woodland or meadow plantings.

Is White Hawkweed toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag White Hawkweed as toxic to livestock.

Is White Hawkweed HOA-friendly?

White Hawkweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

White Hawkweed

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hieracium albiflorum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Hieracium albiflorum, White Hawkweed, blooms from June through August with small white flower heads on wiry stems, favoring dry open woods and mountain meadows with part sun to part shade.

Toxicity unknown

White Hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag White Hawkweed as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CA, CO, ID, MT and 7 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Southern Rockies

White hawkweed is a native perennial that produces clusters of small white daisy-like flowers on slender stems during summer months. This low-growing wildflower forms compact clumps and thrives in partially sunny locations with minimal water once established.

Growing White Hawkweed

Grow White Hawkweed in part sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

White Hawkweed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Name includes 'hawkweed' which has negative connotations
Can appear weedy and informal in maintained landscapes
May spread beyond intended areas

Wildlife value

The summer blooms attract various native bees and beneficial flies for pollination. The seeds may also provide food for small birds and wildlife.

Common questions

What growing conditions does White Hawkweed prefer?: White Hawkweed does well in part sun to part shade with low water needs. It is often found along dry forest edges, open woodlands, and mountain slopes where soil drains quickly.
When does White Hawkweed bloom?: White Hawkweed generally flowers from June through August, sending up slender stalks topped with small white flower heads.
What pollinators visit White Hawkweed?: Bees and flies are the main visitors to White Hawkweed's small white blooms during its summer flowering period.
How much water does White Hawkweed need once established?: White Hawkweed tolerates low water conditions and is well suited to drier sites once it is established, making it a good fit for naturalized woodland or meadow plantings.
Is White Hawkweed toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag White Hawkweed as toxic to livestock.
Is White Hawkweed HOA-friendly?: White Hawkweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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