Orange hawkweed (fox-and-cubs)

Pilosella aurantiaca

About

Orange hawkweed (fox-and-cubs) is a native plant of the mountainous regions of Europe that is hard to miss: its baskets have a rare, rich orange-red color for our meadows. In Ukraine, it grows in the mountain meadows of the Carpathians, and it is cultivated in gardens in other regions. In the Carpathians, flowering orange hawkweed is mainly found from June to August.

This perennial herb grows 20–65 cm tall. The stem is straight and simple, and along with the leaves, it is covered with short, usually dark hairs. At the base, there is a rosette of two to six elongated, entire, soft leaves 5–20 cm long and 1–3 cm wide; there are few or no leaves on the stem. At the top, several clustered baskets open with ligulate flowers — orange, almost red. All parts of the plant exude a milky sap.

An interesting detail: the orange-red color is almost invisible to bees, but the flowers reflect ultraviolet light, so insects can still easily find them.

Thanks to its bright flowers, orange hawkweed has long been cultivated as an ornamental plant, and it has 'escaped' from gardens to many corners of the world. In particular, in parts of North America, it has become an invasive weed. In the Carpathians, however, it is a native species of natural mountain meadows that is not protected. The best way to admire it is on the polonynas on a sunny day when the baskets are fully open.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore564 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries: Slovakia · Ukraine · Romania · Czechia · Poland
Mountain ranges: Bieszczady, Greater Fatra, Lesser Fatra, Slovak Ore Mountains, Low Tatras, Western Tatras, Krasna Polonyna, Slovak Paradise, High Tatras, Levoča Mountains
Altitude belts: Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Flowering
Fruit

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Scorzonera roseaScorzonera roseaInedible

Baskets are pink, solitary at the top of the stem; leaves are narrow, linear, resembling grasses.

Protection and rules

Not protected. Picking plants is prohibited in reserves and protected areas of national parks.

FAQ

What are the orange flowers growing in the Carpathian meadows?

Most likely, it is orange hawkweed: several orange-red baskets on a hairy stem above a rosette of elongated leaves.

Is orange hawkweed invasive?

In North America, where it was introduced as an ornamental plant, yes. In the Carpathians, it is a native species of mountain meadows.

Similar species

Scorzonera roseaScorzonera roseaHow to tell: Baskets are pink, solitary at the top of the stem; leaves are narrow, linear, resembling grasses.

PoisonousMountain arnicaArnica montanaGolden-orange 'daisies' of the Carpathian polonynas that bloom in June - July. Supplies are depleted, so it's better to admire than to collect.

PoisonousColtsfootTussilago farfaraThe first yellow 'sunny flowers' on clay slopes in early spring, still without leaves. Contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Where to meet it

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.