Turkish Hawksbeard: A Mediterranean Wanderer in North American Gardens
Turkish hawksbeard (Crepis nicaeensis) is one of those plants that most gardeners encounter without ever planning to grow it. This annual forb—a fancy way of saying it’s a non-woody flowering plant that completes its life cycle in one year—has made itself at home across scattered parts of North America, despite its Mediterranean origins.
What Exactly Is Turkish Hawksbeard?
Turkish hawksbeard belongs to the sunflower family and produces small, bright yellow flowers that look remarkably similar to tiny dandelions. As an annual forb, it lacks any significant woody tissue and grows as a relatively soft-stemmed plant that dies back completely each winter, relying on seeds to continue the next generation.
Don’t let the name fool you—this plant isn’t actually from Turkey. The nicaeensis in its scientific name refers to Nice, France, pointing to its true Mediterranean heritage. How it earned the Turkish common name remains something of a botanical mystery!
Where You’ll Find It Growing
This non-native species has established populations across a surprisingly scattered range in North America. You can find Turkish hawksbeard growing in British Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. It reproduces on its own in the wild and tends to stick around once it arrives in an area.
Should You Grow Turkish Hawksbeard?
Here’s the thing about Turkish hawksbeard—most people don’t actually choose to grow it. It’s more likely to choose you! This plant typically shows up in disturbed soils, along roadsides, and in waste areas rather than in carefully planned garden beds.
The Case Against Planting It
- It’s not native to North America, so it doesn’t provide the same ecosystem benefits as indigenous plants
- Its small flowers offer limited value to pollinators compared to native alternatives
- It can spread readily through self-seeding
- There are many more attractive and beneficial native options available
If It Shows Up Anyway
Since Turkish hawksbeard isn’t classified as invasive or noxious in most areas, you don’t need to panic if it appears in your garden. However, you might want to remove it before it sets seed if you prefer to keep your garden focused on native species.
Growing Conditions
Turkish hawksbeard is pretty adaptable, which explains how it’s managed to establish itself across such varied climates. It tends to thrive in:
- Disturbed or poor soils
- Areas with full sun to partial shade
- Locations with minimal competition from other plants
The plant’s hardy nature means it can handle a range of conditions, though specific USDA hardiness zone information isn’t readily available for this particular species.
Better Native Alternatives
Instead of Turkish hawksbeard, consider these native alternatives that offer similar yellow flowers but with much greater benefits to local ecosystems:
- Canada hawkweed (Hieracium canadense)
- Fall-flowering goldenrod species
- Native aster species
- Regional wildflowers in the sunflower family
The Bottom Line
While Turkish hawksbeard isn’t necessarily harmful, it’s not particularly helpful either. As a non-native annual that offers limited benefits to pollinators and wildlife, it falls into the category of garden neutral. If you’re planning a landscape, you’ll get much more bang for your buck—and provide far more value to local ecosystems—by choosing native plants instead.
Remember, the most successful gardens work with nature rather than against it. By selecting plants that evolved alongside local wildlife, you’ll create a more resilient and beneficial landscape that truly supports your local environment.
